Unilever South Africa has partnered with Mpact Waste Management to implement integrated waste management systems across its manufacturing facilities in KwaZulu-Natal and Johannesburg, as part of its efforts to reduce landfill dependency and improve material recovery.
The collaboration is aimed at supporting Unilever’s zero waste to landfill ambition while strengthening traceability and efficiency in waste handling operations. Mpact Waste Management, a division of Mpact, is providing on-site solutions that include waste segregation, collection, and recycling services.
According to the companies, the model enables the recovery of recyclable materials directly from production waste streams, allowing materials to be redirected into recycling channels rather than landfill. Mpact also purchases certain recyclable materials, contributing to cost offsets within the waste management process.
From a packaging perspective, the initiative aligns with broader industry efforts to improve circularity by increasing the recovery and reuse of packaging materials and reducing reliance on virgin resources. The partnership reflects a growing trend among brand owners to work more closely with waste management and recycling partners to meet sustainability and regulatory requirements.
In addition to material recovery, a pilot project at Unilever’s facility in Mooi River is converting food production waste into animal feed, contributing to landfill diversion and supporting local job creation.
The partnership highlights the role of integrated waste management systems in advancing circular packaging strategies and operational sustainability within the manufacturing sector.