Silafrica Leads Africa’s Circular Economy with 100% Recyclable Packaging – Akshay Shah Interview

In this section of the interview, Akshay Shah, Group Executive Director of Silafrica, outlines the company’s leading role in shaping the future of sustainable packaging in Kenya and across Africa. As a founding member of the Kenya Extended Producer Responsibility Organization (KEPRO), Silafrica has been instrumental in developing Kenya’s EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) model—a collaborative, industry-led framework to promote circular economy packaging. Shah explains how Silafrica works within KEPRO’s rigid plastic packaging council, bringing together recyclers, collectors, manufacturers, and brand owners to align on measurable recycling targets. These industry stakeholders meet regularly to track the volume of plastic entering the environment and determine financial contributions—known as EPRCs (Extended Producer Responsibility Contributions)—needed to scale plastic collection, sorting, and recycling infrastructure. Positioning itself ahead of regulatory requirements, Silafrica has already achieved a milestone: 36% of its packaging production comes from post-consumer (PCR) and post-industrial recycled (PIR) materials. Additionally, the company is uncompromising in its environmental commitments, producing only 100% recyclable packaging and actively helping clients transition from non-recyclable formats. Silafrica’s innovation strategy prioritizes incorporating recycled content into secondary and tertiary packaging, while it develops a roadmap for food-safe recycled materials in primary packaging. With continued collaboration, customer support, and investment in technology, Shah believes Silafrica can push recycled content usage to over 60% in the next 5 to 10 years, reinforcing its leadership in sustainable packaging solutions in Africa.