Sava Exceeds EPR Recycling Targets While Advancing Growth Of PVC Circular Economy

SAVA Exceeds PVC Recycling Targets Despite Industry Pressures

The Southern African Vinyls Association (SAVA) has reported strong progress in PVC recycling and product stewardship, exceeding national targets for post-consumer PVC packaging despite mounting challenges in South Africa’s recycling sector.

During Year 4 (2025) of its Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programme, SAVA’s recycling partners processed 587,902.48 kg of post-consumer PVC packaging, achieving a recycling rate of 10.33%. This significantly surpasses the 6.5% target set by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

The results reflect substantial year-on-year growth. While the volume of PVC packaging placed on the market by SAVA members increased by 19.71%, the amount recycled rose by 138.98%, more than doubling from the previous year. This pushed the recycling rate from 5.2% to 10.33%, marking a near 100% improvement in efficiency.

Recycling Sector Under Strain

Despite these gains, SAVA highlights ongoing pressure across the broader recycling industry. According to Plastics SA, total PVC recycling volumes declined to 19,586 tonnes in 2024, down from 26,100 tonnes in 2023. However, the recycling rate for PVC packaging has remained stable at around 7%, indicating resilience within the system.

Several factors are contributing to the slowdown, including the influx of low-cost and sub-standard imports, reduced competitiveness of recycled materials due to low virgin polymer prices, a shrinking local manufacturing base, operational constraints faced by recyclers, and limited laboratory testing capacity.

“These challenges are currently affecting recyclers across the plastics value chain,” says Monique Hinds, CEO of SAVA. “We are also seeing increased imports of finished PVC-packaged goods where importers are not contributing to EPR fees.”

Continued Investment In Recycling And Circular Economy Initiatives

SAVA remains committed to strengthening PVC recycling through continued investment and support. The organisation has confirmed ongoing financial backing for post-consumer PVC recycling projects into 2026, alongside technical support for local recyclers.

One of its key initiatives includes a vinyl flooring off-cut recycling programme, which collects installation waste and channels it back into recycling streams. SAVA is also working with industry partners to develop new end-markets for recycled vinyl materials, supporting circular economy growth within the construction and flooring sectors.

Building On A Decade Of Product Stewardship

These efforts build on SAVA’s Product Stewardship Commitment (PSC), launched in 2011 to promote responsible manufacturing and product safety. A major milestone was achieved in 2012 when South African PVC pipe manufacturers transitioned to lead-free stabilisers, five years ahead of the European Union.

Today, SAVA members continue to eliminate harmful additives such as mercury, lead, and cadmium, while strictly controlling emissions of vinyl chloride monomer. Annual compliance verification ensures that locally produced PVC meets high environmental and safety standards.

Driving A Sustainable PVC Future

As the industry navigates ongoing economic and operational challenges, SAVA emphasises the importance of collaboration across the value chain to strengthen South Africa’s recycling ecosystem.

The association remains focused on supporting recyclers, expanding collection systems, and developing sustainable end-markets to ensure PVC remains a valuable and widely recycled material. Through continued investment and responsible practices, SAVA aims to advance a more resilient and circular future for PVC in South Africa.