Oasis Water has launched South Africa’s first fully recyclable 10L PET refill dispenser bottle, marking a step towards reducing plastic waste in the country. The initiative aligns with growing efforts to combat plastic pollution and promote sustainable packaging solutions.
Addressing Plastic Pollution
Plastic waste poses a significant threat to marine ecosystems, with seabirds among the most affected species. “We frequently see the devastating effects of plastic on seabirds during beach cleanups and post-mortems, with items like bottle rings and other debris entangling or harming these creatures,” says Romandi de Jongh, Resource Development Manager at the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB).
South Africa has made strides in plastic recycling, processing 431,800 tons of plastic in 2023, up from 368,800 tons in 2022. While the country’s plastics industry remains small on a global scale, it leads Sub-Saharan Africa in recycling solutions. Oasis Water’s latest innovation contributes to these efforts by offering a closed-loop system where old bottles are recycled into new ones.
Advancing Circularity with PET
The 10L PET dispenser bottle is part of Oasis Water’s ‘Water Exchange’ programme, which promotes reuse and recycling. PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) is widely recognized for its strength, lightweight properties, and ability to be recycled multiple times without degrading in quality.
“With proper design, PET bottles at the end of their life can become bottles again. This is a significant shift toward true circularity, moving away from downcycling or single-use plastics,” says Chandru Wadhwani, Joint Managing Director at ExtruPET.
Oasis Water plans to expand its recyclable PET offerings, with research and development set for 2025 to transition its 20L dispenser bottles to PET.
Industry Commitment to Sustainability
The company has long focused on sustainable refill solutions, with 70% of its water sales coming from refillable containers. By embedding recyclability into its packaging design, Oasis Water aims to reduce plastic waste while maintaining accessibility to clean drinking water.
“We’re proud to set this benchmark for sustainability in our industry,” says Delamaine du Toit, Director of Marketing at Oasis Water. “We are committed to taking meaningful steps to combat plastic waste and pollution while delivering clean, affordable drinking water to all South Africans.”