PETCO Ethiopia is the trading name of the PETCO Ethiopia Recycling Community Organization, a non for profit organization incorporated in 2019 to represent the Ethiopian  PET plastic industry’s joint effort to self-regulate post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling.

PETCO’s unique model is built on the simple principle of an industry driven and financed environmental solution for post-consumer PET plastic. The PET plastics industry acknowledges that the convenience and life-saving qualities of plastics aside, a solution for post-consumer plastic packaging is critical in order to minimize its impact on the environment.

To achieve this everyone involved, from the raw material producers, the converters, brand owners, retailers, consumers and recyclers are playing their part in the solution, with PETCO Ethiopia fulfilling the PET industry’s role of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).

EPR promotes the integration of environmental costs associated with PET products throughout their life cycles into the market costs of the products and shifts responsibility for the used container from government to private industry.

PETCO Ethiopia is financed by a voluntary recycling levy paid by converters on PET resin purchased. PETCO Ethiopia also receives grants from brand owners, resin producers and retailers. Support for PET recycling efforts ensures an ongoing monetary value for post-consumer PET. This sustains collection interest and reduces the volume of post-consumer PET in the waste stream.

By taking responsibility for post-consumer PET recycling, PETCO Ethiopia executes accountability over the entire life cycle of PET products and packaging. This means that companies that manufacture, import and/or sell PET products and packaging are financially and physically responsible for such products after their useful life.

Ongoing consumer and public education and awareness activities promote environmental responsibility and encourage PET recycling.