The Shoprite Group has introduced South Africa’s first fully recyclable 7kg potato bag, marking a significant advancement in sustainable packaging within the retail sector. This initiative addresses the longstanding environmental challenge posed by traditional potato packaging, which has contributed approximately 18,600 tonnes of waste to landfills annually.

Developed internally by a team of five employees participating in a leadership development programme with the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), the project aimed to create a recyclable, reusable, or compostable alternative to the existing non-recyclable potato bags. The team faced complexities due to the inner wet-strength layer required for moisture resistance, which rendered the bags incompatible with local recycling facilities.

A breakthrough was achieved in collaboration with Billerud, a multinational paper supplier. Their research and development team in Sweden developed a new semi-wet-strength paper formulation that passed local recyclability tests, met all technical requirements, and could be adopted without disrupting current operations.

The new recyclable bags have been rolled out across more than 1,400 Shoprite, Checkers, and Usave stores nationwide since May 2025. This change increases the proportion of the Shoprite Group’s packaging that is recyclable, reusable, or compostable from 88.9% to 90%, aligning with the company’s 2025 sustainable packaging targets.

Beyond environmental benefits, the initiative has the potential to generate over R22 million in additional income for South Africa’s informal waste pickers if adopted industry-wide, thereby supporting the local recycling economy.

Sanjeev Raghubir, Chief Sustainability Officer at the Shoprite Group, emphasized the broader impact of the innovation, stating, “People are increasingly looking to businesses for solutions that benefit both society and the environment, [which is] a responsibility we take to heart.” He added, “We are committed to tackling South Africa’s waste challenges and believe this initiative will inspire others to follow suit”.

The development has been well-received by industry stakeholders. Willie Jacobs, CEO of Potatoes South Africa, commented, “If Shoprite has been able to maintain a viable wet-strength while making the packaging entirely recyclable then it is a win for all of us in the industry”.

This initiative sets a precedent for sustainable practices in the retail sector, demonstrating the potential of in-house innovation to address environmental challenges effectively.