While the general date for application is still 18 months away, South Africa’s pome and stonefruit industries are actively engaged in processes to adhere to the packaging regulations
South Africa is reacting to the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which is now very much a reality with a general date of application in around 18 months’ time.
The country, like most other exporting nations, has a long history of using plastic components in fruit export packaging.
These components have been developed over decades, mostly with the aim of delivering products in the best condition and quality, thousands of kilometres away, across oceans and on other continents.
Transitioning to alternatives can be challenging and sometimes takes time to implement to reduce unnecessary waste and to ensure that quality is maintained.
”South African stonefruit and pomefruit industry organisation Hortgro, together with Greencape, is engaging with the plastics industry (recyclers and innovators) for alternatives and longer-term solutions to meet the South African Plastics Pact target, whilst also complying with retailer requirements on export products,” explained Nitasha Baijnath-Pillay, resource management and sustainability manager at Hortgro.
GreenCape is a not-for-profit company that drives the widespread adoption of economically viable green economy solutions from South Africa.
It works with businesses, investors, academia and government to help unlock the investment and employment potential of green technologies and services that support a transition to a resilient green and circular economy.
“Hortgro Science is also funding research on plastic alternatives,” noted Dr Mariana Jooste, post harvest programme manager at Hortgro Science.
“The EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation aims to minimise the quantities of packaging and waste generated while lowering the use of primary raw materials and fostering the transition to a circular, sustainable and competitive economy,” Baijnath-Pillay outlined.
The regulations require 100 per cent recyclable packaging by 2030.
“It is stringent and measurable and favours innovation,” she said. ”It makes recyclable packaging mandatory; requires minimum post-consumer recycled content in plastic packaging; minimises packaging to prevent waste (including mandatory deposit return system), and requires and improves re-use and refill systems.”
To get an update on a timeline for implementation, Hortgro engaged with Joanna Nathanson, head of sustainability and external relations at Freshfel, who indicated that there were several guidelines, standards and regulations that would need to be developed until the law is fully implemented in EU member states.
”This will then make it clearer on the requirements that external parties (importers) will need to comply to,” said Nathanson.
Nathanson is anticipated to join Hortgro’s Footprint webinar on Plastics and packing requirements in June 2025.
“Our Footprint webinar series aims to foster knowledge sharing, collaboration, and inspire action towards a more sustainable future by addressing environmental, social, and economic issues, focusing on the needs of our South African Pome and stone producers,” said Baijnath-Pillay.
Jooste confirmed that the fruit industry relied on plastics for packaging to ensure fruit quality and safety, while it also actively strived to use them in a sustainable manner that aligned with environmental goals.
”South Africa’s Plastics Pact, along with several organisations, is focused on meeting the targets and recycling requirements for products, including deciduous fruit intended for export,” she said.
Hortgro Science had been actively researching responsible plastic use and exploring non-plastic options for many years, Jooste outlined, efforts that aimed to maintain fruit quality while complying with consumer preferences and legislation.
“The targets have been set, and we are given a timeline within which to develop our alternatives and recyclable content,” said Baijnath-Pillay. ”Therefore, the work by the Plastics Pact members, Hortgro and Hortgro-Science is so crucial. It eliminates surprises, incalculable risks of product and packaging waste.”
The legislative requirements regarding the South African legislation on waste recovery, recyclability, extended producer responsibility and more applies to all sectors beyond agriculture in South Africa.
The greatest challenge will be single-use plastics that will be dictated by the PPWR directive in the EU.
Systems must be in place to collect the plastics, and the plastic must conform to EU recycling specifications.
“We will only know these specifications once the EU member states draft their policies, guidelines and standards,” added Baijnath-Pillay.
”We will work tirelessly to find a solution that makes us ready to package our pome and stone fruit in packaging materials that are acceptable in the EU and UK, as this is dictated by our customers and retailers abroad.”
