Polyoak Packaging marked its 12th annual Clean-Up Day this September, bringing employees and their families together across South Africa to take practical action for cleaner communities. This year, 10 Polyoak sites nationally took part, with 1,137 volunteers collecting 2,743kg (454 bags) of litter. From beaches and public spaces to communities around our operations, employees gave their … Read more
Polypet’s Eco-Flat Wine Bottle won the SAPRO 2026 Gold Award for Best Innovation, celebrating a packaging solution that rethinks how wine is packaged, transported, and stored to improve sustainability whilst retaining enjoyment. The South African Plastics Recycling Organisation (SAPRO) gathers the industry together annually to celebrate the innovators turning waste into worth. This award demonstrates … Read more
Behind every well-run production line is someone who knows the machine inside out. At Polyoak, our setters are the pilots who keep our machines flying. To invest in our pilots, our Polyoak Business School has launched an innovative training programme, ‘Setter Flight School’ to make sure they have the skills, knowledge and training to keep … Read more
Whether you’re transporting fuel to a construction site, storing drinking water for a camping trip, or packaging chemicals for industrial use, a reliable plastic jerry can make all the difference. Available in a range of sizes and designed to withstand demanding conditions, jerry cans have become an essential packaging solution across South Africa. From homeowners … Read more
The phrase “single use packaging” has become part of everyday conversation, but what does it mean? Many people assume that if packaging was designed to carry a product home from the shop, it should be thrown away once it’s empty. That assumption overlooks how many packaging formats can continue to add value long after their original purpose … Read more
The claim that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050 has become one of the most repeated statements in environmental campaigns. It is often presented as an undisputed fact, encouraging people to believe our oceans are on an inevitable path towards catastrophe. The reality is more nuanced. The Claim The statement originated … Read more
Packaging does far more than contain a product. It protects food, preserves quality, enables safe transport and helps reduce waste throughout the supply chain. Even at its end of life, it can continue to deliver value to collectors and recyclers, if there is proper communication about how it should be handled once its other jobs are done. From recycling symbols to disposal instructions, the information printed on … Read more
Every World Environment Day, the spotlight falls on the actions needed to protect our planet. Conversations often focus on reducing waste, conserving resources and rethinking the products we use every day. Packaging frequently finds itself at the centre of these discussions, often cast as the environmental villain. Yet what if the story is more nuanced than that? The truth … Read more
South Africa is a water-scarce country, yet millions of litres of water move through our dams, pipelines and municipalities every single day. The real challenge is not always whether water exists but whether people can access clean, safe drinking water when they need it most. Across the country, aging infrastructure, prolonged droughts, climate change, service delivery failures and intermittent water interruptions continue … Read more
In an era where artificial intelligence promises speed, efficiency, and automation, one question continues to surface across the manufacturing sector: can AI truly replace skilled artisans? In plastics manufacturing, the answer is clear – it cannot. Behind every high-performing production line is a skilled machine setter who understands not just the machine, but the material, … Read more