World Env Day – PETRECOZIM

Industrial Circularity and PET Recovery

The World Environment Day event in June 2025 featured a technical tour of the PETRECOZIM facility, highlighting Zimbabwe’s leading model for post-consumer PET plastic recycling. This visit demonstrated the “Close the Loop” philosophy, where plastic waste is diverted from landfills and processed into high-quality flakes for both local manufacturing and export. Participants observed the industrial-scale sorting, washing, and granulation processes that transform environmental liabilities into valuable secondary raw materials.

Stakeholder Collaboration and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

A central theme of the session was the collaborative framework between PETRECOZIM and its member companies, showcasing a successful implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). The event illustrated how Zimbabwean beverage and packaging firms co-invest in recovery infrastructure to mitigate the environmental impact of their products. This collective action serves as a blueprint for other sectors to comply with the Environmental Management Act by taking financial and physical responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their packaging.

Economic Empowerment through Green Value Chains

Beyond the technical processing, the tour emphasized the social impact of the PET value chain, particularly the integration of informal waste collectors into the formal green economy. Discussions focused on how specialized recovery centers and collection networks create sustainable livelihoods while improving municipal waste management efficiency. By the end of the event, attendees gained a comprehensive understanding of how industrial recycling stabilizes supply chains, reduces carbon footprints, and contributes to Zimbabwe’s transition toward a resilient circular economy.