Refill Realities Country Profile – South Africa

Benefiting from a strong legacy of returnable beverage packaging, South Africa possesses some the most advanced circular infrastructure in region. The country is now leveraging its mandatory EPR framework to expand refill systems across broader consumer categories.

Snapshot on refill in South Africa:

• No binding legal or policy instruments that sets reuse targets directly regulate businesses adopting refill solutions.
• Mandatory EPR scheme.
• Well-established voluntary deposit-return systems for glass bottles.
• Plastic Pact present in country.
• More than five enterprises.
• No brand commitments refill.
• Small range of products present in refill: Mainly food and beverages.
• Voluntary desposit-return systems exist for glass bottles. No formal DRS for plastics.

Download the report for more information on the refill and reuse practices in South Africa.