On 27 August, the Indaba Hotel in Johannesburg hosted more than 190 industry leaders, innovators and media who gathered to celebrate South Africa’s most compelling examples of recycled plastic transformed into high-value products.
Now part of SAPRO’s annual spotlight, the awards showcased 31 entries across seven categories, each telling a story of ingenuity, persistence and the urgent need to embed recycled content in the mainstream economy. From functional construction products to personal care packaging, the winners demonstrated that sustainability and sophistication are not mutually exclusive.
‘Without markets for recycled plastics, the loop remains broken,’ noted SAPRO GM Oliver Bonstein. ‘These awards are about showing what’s possible, and every year the bar is raised.’
This year’s overall winner, the Vaseline body lotion bottle developed by ALPLA Packaging SA, Unilever SA and Extrupet, epitomises that shift. The bottle features a three-layer structure with recycled HDPE forming the middle layer, a bold step forward for incorporating recycled content into personal care packaging – a sector under growing pressure to prove its sustainability credentials.
‘Recycled plastics can absolutely compete on quality and functionality,’ affirmed Polyco CEO Patricia Pillay. ‘This year’s winners are proof that design for recycling and market relevance can go hand in hand.’
The packaging category drew strong contenders, with finalists including Bowler Packaging, Shoprite Checkers and Extrupet for their Kitchen Brand honey bottle and 2L foam bath bottle; ALPLA Packaging SA, Unilever SA and Extrupet for the Comfort 800ml ribbed bottle; and Urban Sleeves with Leathercraft Winklmayr, Inno Textiles and Extrupet for their bespoke packaging solution.
Bronze went to ALPLA Recycling and ALPLA Packaging SA for their rPET preforms, while Silver was awarded to Plastic Bubbles, Adcock Ingram Consumer Division and Myplas for the Plush rPP lid. The Gold and overall category winner was the Vaseline body lotion bottle by ALPLA Packaging SA, Unilever SA and Extrupet.
Sponsors Polyco, eWASA, Zerma Africa, Starlinger, Petco and Eco-Smart ensured the evening sparkled, while Spier Wines and Supreme Mouldings added finishing touches to the celebration.
eWASA’s sponsorship of the 2025 SAPRO Awards reflects its core mission of advancing responsible recycling and waste management across South Africa. ‘The awards provide a vital platform to recognise excellence, raise awareness and showcase innovation that drives us closer to a circular economy,’ said Vanessa Mashele, key account manager at eWASA.
For eWASA, the SAPRO Awards highlight the ingenuity and progress of the plastics recycling industry, proving recycling is both possible and essential for job creation, economic growth and environmental protection. ‘The awards build confidence in a sector critical to South Africa’s circular economy transition,’ she noted.
Vanessa emphasised that partnerships between PROs and industry stakeholders are key to shared accountability, innovation and sustainability. Looking ahead, eWASA will continue strengthening education and outreach, scaling infrastructure and broadening partnerships to ensure responsible recycling becomes a shared national priority.
For Chandru Wadhwani, joint CEO of Extrupet, the SAPRO Awards are less about trophies than about proof of concept. Winning the Best Recycled Plastic Product Award for the second year in a row – this time for the Vaseline body lotion bottle designed with ALPLA Packaging SA and Unilever SA – is, he admits, ‘a bit like the Springboks clinching back-to-back World Cups.’ The real victory, though, lies in awareness. ‘If we don’t use recycled content, packaging ends up in landfill – it’s that simple,’ he says. Chandru credits Unilever, Shoprite Checkers and the converters behind these projects for pushing collaboration beyond rhetoric. ‘We can never have enough of these partnerships. They show that circularity works when everyone in the value chain leans in.’
But even as South Africa celebrates, Chandru is candid about the storm clouds gathering over recycling worldwide. In June, Extrupet hosted the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, alongside a UNEP delegation, to mark 25 years of innovation at its Wadeville facility. The visit was both a milestone and a warning flare: recycling plants are shutting down globally as cheap oil drives virgin plastic prices lower, making recycled PET appear expensive by comparison. ‘Two years ago, rPET and virgin were on par. Now, suddenly, recycled looks overpriced – but only because virgin is artificially cheap,’ Chandru explains. ‘It’s a dangerous narrative, reducing the debate to rands and cents while ignoring the environmental cost of not recycling. That’s why recognition platforms like SAPRO matter. They remind us that using recycled content is not just an economic choice – it’s a survival strategy for the planet.’
Polyco champions plastic recycling
As headline sponsor of the 2025 SAPRO Awards, Polyco reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating South Africa’s transition to a circular economy.
‘We view the SAPRO Awards as more than a celebration – they are a catalyst for change,’ emphasises Chantal Philander, Polyco’s marketing manager. ‘The awards highlight how recycled plastics can compete at the highest levels of quality and performance, inspiring industry leaders, brand owners and consumers to see waste as a valuable resource.’
Chantal explains that the partnership perfectly aligns with Polyco’s mission as a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO). ‘Our mandate is to transform plastic waste into a valuable resource. By backing the awards, we showcase the ingenuity of recyclers, designers and manufacturers who are creating high-quality products from post-consumer plastics recyclate.’
Polyco’s work spans investment in infrastructure, advancing research and development on hard-to-recycle plastics such as multi-layer and BOPP, and providing enterprise development support. ‘We also back our initiatives like Packa-Ching, which empowers communities and creates meaningful job opportunities,’ she adds.
‘Looking ahead, Polyco will continue to focus on education and awareness, infrastructure support and market development opportunities. Our vision is a South Africa where waste is separated at source and every citizen understands the value of recycling.’
The SAPRO Awards are a call to action. They challenge manufacturers, retailers and consumers alike to demand and adopt recycled content, keeping plastics in circulation and out of landfills.
As Oliver put it: ‘Recognition at the awards shows that sustainability, style and luxury can truly co-exist. That’s the future of packaging, and the industry is only just beginning to explore what’s possible.’
With every award handed out, the message grew louder: South Africa’s recyclers and designers are not only keeping plastics in play – they’re reshaping the way we think about waste itself.
Eco Fold: from felt to fame
Urban Sleeves’ Eco Fold Packaging for Winklmayr Leathercraft stood out at the SAPRO Awards with its seamless blend of luxury, function and sustainability.
Made from recycled PET felt, the foldable sleeve protects premium wallets and purses while avoiding glue or stitching through precision laser-cut perforations. ‘The Eco Fold reflects craftsmanship and responsibility, proving that packaging can be stylish, protective and sustainable,’ said founder Sabine Linkenheil. Beyond luxury, Urban Sleeves applies the same philosophy to everyday designs such as tech organisers, crossbody pouches and desk pads crafted from GRS-certified rPET felt – products that extend value, reduce waste and embody circular, functional design.
