Checkers is the first South African retailer to replace its rotisserie chicken packaging with fully recyclable, responsibly sourced cardboard boxes. This will prevent 68 tons of non-recycled multi-layer laminated material from being landfilled every year.

This is part of Checker’s ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability as the retailer continues to make changes that are better for our planet. 

It is also in line with the Shoprite Group’s commitment to designing its packaging with sustainability in mind. To promote the circular economy, the Group has committed to ensuring that 100% of its own-brand packaging is reusable, recyclable and compostable, and that it contains on average 30% recycled material content by 2025. 

Good progress has already been made, transitioning key packaging categories, including: 

• All paper and carton board packaging used at in-store deli’s, bakeries and fresh fish sections are now 100% responsibly sourced. 
• Private label Crystal Valley Fresh Milk’s bottle cap colour has been changed from blue and red to white, which enables recyclers to eliminate downcycling into darker cap colours like black. 
• In the next two months PET Thermoform plastic sandwich punnets will be replaced with a Kraft carton sandwich wedge which has a small window, for easy removal before recycling. 

In addition, the Group currently recycles the following volumes of material per hour through its reverse logistics operations 

• Plastic: 4 653 tons per year = 531 kgs per hour or 0.5 tons per hour 
• Cardboard: 40 327 tons per year = 4 604 kgs per hour or 4.6 tons per hour