Paper and board packaging’s sustainability depends on more than changing from plastic to fibre. It’s in the details: the type of adhesive, the surface coating and the resin in the paper’s weave. These hidden choices can determine whether a box lives again as new paper or ends up in landfill.
For Jandri de la Rey, programme and strategy enablement manager at Fibre Circle, South Africa’s Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) for paper, fibre and board, this is a significant issue. ‘We’ve seen a sharp rise in tamper-evident labels and plastic adhesive tapes on takeaway bags and shipping boxes,’ he says. ‘While these calm consumer fears about hygiene and product safety, they wreak havoc in recycling plants. Adhesives clump in the machinery, forcing downtime for cleaning, or contaminate the recovered fibre entirely. Perfectly recyclable brown kraft becomes a problem material.’
The takeaway sector, e-commerce packaging and home delivery have all increased the demand for tamper-proofing. But for recyclers, every strip of synthetic tape is a snag in the system. At best, it slows production, and at worst, it renders an entire load unrecyclable.
Jandri’s advice is practical. Staples offer a simple, low-impact sealing option that separates easily in the pulping process. Even better, he says, are 100% paper-based labels with water-based adhesives, free from wet-strength resins and lamination. ‘It’s about keeping brown kraft fibre as pure as possible,’ he notes. ‘Clean fibre cycles through the system more times, extending its life and value.’
As a PRO, Fibre Circle sits between design, policy and on-the-ground recycling capability. It advises companies on how to design for recyclability from the outset, tailored to South Africa’s collection and processing infrastructure. This includes promoting unbleached kraft with minimal coatings, supporting brands with local recyclability testing and working to establish a national recyclability standard for paper-based packaging. ‘We want environmental labelling claims to be factual and locally relevant,’ Jandri stresses.
A common misconception still lingers: if something is made from fibre, it must be recyclable. ‘That’s not always true,’ he warns. ‘Heavily coated or resin-treated fibre behaves more like plastic during pulping, undermining Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) compliance long before a pack reaches a sorting facility.’
Pockets of success
One of Fibre Circle’s most notable examples is the humble potato bag. Traditionally made from sack kraft paper strengthened with wet-strength resin, these bags were durable enough to handle moisture and weight, yet nearly impossible to recycle without chemical-intensive processing.
Following research between an industry recycling partner and Fibre Circle, a major local retailer tested alternatives and adopted a semi-wet-strength resin that delivers durability during transport while still breaking down in the pulper. The result was South Africa’s first recyclable potato bag – a small innovation with significant impact.
The new sacks were initially accepted into K4 wastepaper grades by Mpact Recycling. Now, following continued engagement with industry, three of South Africa’s five major K4 recyclers have confirmed acceptance of these bags into their K4/OCC wastepaper streams. This marks a significant step towards nationwide recyclability and broader market transition.
Fibre Circle is now promoting the collection of these bags, particularly through waste pickers and buy-back centres, working closely with the participating recyclers.
However, supply of the new paper remains limited and fully transitioning the market requires aligned commitment from global paper manufacturers, local converters, retailers and recyclers.
Fibre Circle is continuing its work with suppliers to expand adoption – a long-term goal that could ultimately enable full collection and recycling of potato bags across all retail brands.
For Jandri, these technical improvements are also about protecting public trust in sustainability claims. ‘We all want a cleaner, waste-free South Africa and that starts at the origin of the packaging,’ he says. ‘If you get the design right from the beginning, recycling isn’t an afterthought – it’s inevitable.’
