Telly Chauke has taken over the role of CEO of producer responsibility and recycling organisation Petco, with effect from January 1.

Chauke, who is an experienced sustainability specialist, joined Petco as CEO-designate in September, thereby beginning a strategic, planned leadership handover from former CEO Cheri Scholtz.

Chauke is the former chief sustainability officer for the Coega Development Corporation, and was the specialist on environment, climate change and sustainability policies for the South African Local Government Association for ten years prior to that, Petco says.

“We are exceptionally pleased to have someone of Telly’s calibre on board in this role, as she brings a wealth of experience in navigating the public policy space. As a climate and environmental scientist, she brings a unique additional skillset to the role,” says Scholtz.

Scholtz has led Petco since it was formed as an industry-led voluntary mechanism for collection and recycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in South Africa in 2004.

Petco developed a sustainable collection and recycling funding model before the transition to a mandatory post-consumer packaging extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme in 2021.

Petco surpassed its medium-term goal to collect and recycle 50% of post-consumer PET beverage bottles by 2015.

Collection for recycling grew from approximately 10 000 tonnes a year to more than 90 000 tonnes, which represented an increase of more 600% when considering the growth in the volume of PET placed onto the market during this time, Petco says.

Further, the most recent audited results show that Petco achieved 98% of legislated targets set by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment for these products by volume.

Additionally, in 2023, Petco achieved the required 64% collection rate and exceeded the 58% recycling rate - achieving 60% - for post-consumer PET beverage bottles placed on the market by its members.

It also achieved 80% of the legislated recycling target for its new EPR scheme for liquid board packaging (LBP), and followed this with 100% of targets met in 2024, highlights Petco.

“I am proud that we were able to bring LBP into Petco, which is a significant validation that the Petco model can work for packaging materials other than PET,” notes Scholtz.

Building a sustainable value chain had been critical to the organisation’s success so far, she says.

“We have attended to the end-use market, created value for collectors and buy-back centres, encouraged the development of recycling capacity and capability, and then worked to unlock the feedstock through enabling collection.

“I believe this balanced approach will stand Petco in good stead for continued success and resilience in the years to come,” she adds.

The EPR regulations require that producers in the paper and packaging sector, including brand owners, retailers and importers, discharge their obligations individually, or collectively by joining an organisation like Petco, to take responsibility for the full life cycle of their post-consumer packaging, so that it does not end up in the environment or landfill.

An enabling public policy regime and a healthy relationship between industry, the government and consumers are core to a successful EPR, says Chauke.

“I look forward to steering Petco in maintaining these relationships for the benefit of our members and recycling partners,” she says.

“With my background in governance and sustainability, I understand the rand value of being compliant in terms of public policy and the broader global environmental, social and governance reporting metrics,” Chauke says.

“The Petco board of directors extends its heartfelt gratitude for Cheri’s invaluable contribution to EPR in South Africa and, as she retires, we are confident that she will remain a committed ambassador not only of Petco but the packaging sector indefinitely,” comments Petco chairperson Greg Morse.

“Her knowledge, leadership and pioneering spirit have seen Petco grow to become a nationally compliant and globally relevant producer responsibility organisation,” he says.

“Further, the board is assured of Telly's competence and ability to lead Petco and sustain its legacy of positive impact and meeting EPR targets. She will enjoy our full support and guidance, as we enter the next period of mandatory EPR,” he adds.