PACKAGING SUSTAINABILITY FOR BUSINESSES IN SOUTH AFRICA

Not all packaging materials are equally sustainable. South Africa widely recycles aluminium, paper, and cardboard, while materials like polystyrene and LDPE film are harder to collect and process. As a food packaging supplier, we want you to know exactly what your products are packed in. Use the comparison below to see each material's recyclability and sustainability rating, or explore each material to find recyclable packaging that suits your business.

COMPARING PACKAGING MATERIALS: SUSTAINABILITY AND RECYCLING

Packaging material	Code	Recyclable	Sustainable
Aluminium	ALU	Yes	High
High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS)	6	Yes, if clean and accepted locally	Low
Polystyrene (PS)	6	Limited	Low
Polypropylene (PP)	5	Yes	Medium
Virgin Corrugated Cardboard	PAP 20	Yes	High
Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)	4	Limited (film is hard to collect)	Low
Recycled Paper	PAP 22	Yes	High
Aqueous-Coated Paper	PAP 22	Yes, subject to mill acceptance	High
Sugarcane Bagasse	PAP 22	Yes, and compostable	High
Virgin Paper	PAP 22	Yes	High
Polylactic Acid (PLA)	7	No (industrially compostable)	Low
High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)	2	Yes	Medium

Sugarcane bagasse

Virgin corrugated cardboard

Aqueous-coated paper

Recycled paper

Virgin paper

HIPS

Polystyrene

Aluminium

PP plastic

LDPE plastic

PLA plastic

HDPE plastic

OUR COMMITMENT TO LOOP CERTIFIED PRODUCTS

At Viro, we have created product standards and certifications to mandate local production, circular design for recyclability, and minimum levels of post-consumer recycled content. Our Loop Certified initiative underscores our dedication to sustainability and circularity in packaging solutions.

Locally Made

Our Loop Certified products are produced locally, supporting local economies and reducing carbon footprints associated with transportation.

100% Recyclable

All Loop Certified products are fully recyclable locally, ensuring they can be processed and given value as new products multiple times, significantly reducing waste.

Recycled Content

Each Loop Certified product must contain a minimum of 30% recycled materials, supporting the recycling industry and reducing the need for virgin resources.

ADD TRANSPARENCY TO YOUR PACKAGING WITH QR

At Viro Solutions, we believe in complete transparency and sustainability. That’s why we’ve created the Digital Product Passport - an innovative platform that transforms how you interact with packaging

TRANSPARENCY

Get detailed insights into materials, suppliers, recyclability, and more.

SUSTAINABILITY

Experience cutting-edge technology providing accurate, up-to-date product information.

INNOVATION