Business plays a crucial role in achieving the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At Safripol, while we support all of the SDGs through collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders, we are prioritising the following six SDGs — 8, 12, 13, 7, 9, and 17 that align most closely with our business and where we believe we can create the greatest impact through our actions.

Priority SDGs and how we contribute?

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Employment of 447 employees (FY 2025) including permanent, fixed term and temporary employees.
• Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Level 3 contributor, verified by AQRate, and positively contributing to economic inclusion of black South Africans.
• Empowered employees with access to training and development programmes.
• ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 certified facilities, and our plants are Responsible Care® certified.
• Governance framework that ensures that we maintain ethical business practices, strong governance structures, and human rights.
• Support small businesses including marginalised groups, and youth employment through the Youth Employment Service (YES). Safripol was recently recognised by YES as having provided work experience opportunities to more than 1000 youth.
• Youth training and skills development hosted either at our sites or by our partners.

SDGs 12, 13, 7 and 9: Responsible Consumption, Climate Action, Clean Energy and Industry Innovation

• Responsible resource management and optimising resource efficiency.
• Promoting sustainable consumption and production of plastics through the Let’s plastic responsibly (LPR) campaign.
• Product portfolio prioritises recyclability, durable and lightweighting applications that enable circularity of plastics.
• Safripol uses post-consumer resin (PCR) PET to produce recycled PET. Safripol’s ASPIRE® 15 and ASPIRE® 25 range contain 15% and 25% PCR respectively and enables upcycling for bottle-to-bottle applications, thereby maximising the value of PCR PET.
• Focus on decarbonising our energy sources by implementing multiple self-generation photovoltaic (PV) solar energy power plants, thereby mitigating energy supply risks while supporting lower energy costs, and reducing our GHG emissions over time.
• Implementing the most effective polymer production technology where possible to improve our operational efficiencies across key environmental indicators.
• On-site water reuse and recycling.
• Waste reduction and separation at source (S@S) programme at our sites.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Partnerships with various customers and brand owners on circular polymer solutions, and sustainable products.
• Founded LPR platform for partnership with the plastics value chain and implementing recycling campaigns at schools.
• Advancing plastics sustainability thought leadership through Safripol’s annual Sustainability Conference.
• Participation in industry bodies and working closely with the Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) to advance plastics sustainability.
• Engagement with the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and Department of Trade Industry and Competition (DTIC) on industry regulatory matters.
• Participating in the UNEA Plastics Treaty discussions.

FAQs

Q1: Which United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) does Safripol prioritise?
A1: Safripol prioritizes six SDGs that align with its business and areas of greatest impact: SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Q2: How does Safripol contribute to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)?
A2: We employ 447 employees, and ensure that we attract and retain talent, while providing a safe and conducive working environment for all employees, and contractors. We have a comprehensive safety management system, processes and procedures in place, and our facilities are ISO certified  (ISO 9001, 14001, 45001). Our governance framework ensures that we maintain strong governance structures aligned with ethical business and human rights practices. We have a Level 3 B-BBEE rating, and we focus on skills development, enterprise and supplier development, socioeconomic development and participate in the YES initiative.

Q3: How do Safripol’s products and resource management align with circularity goals (SDGs 12 & 9)?
A3: Safripol’s product portfolio prioritises recyclability, durability, and lightweighting. We use post-consumer PET to produce our ASPIRE® resins and we are developing other recycled polyolefin solutions. The company also focusses on responsible resource management, on-site water reuse and recycling, waste re-use and recycling and separation at source programmes.

Q4: What actions is Safripol taking for Climate Action and Clean Energy (SDGs 13 & 7)?
A4: Actions include focusing on decarbonising energy sources by implementing multiple self-generation photovoltaic (PV) solar energy power plants, thereby mitigating energy supply risks while supporting lower energy costs, and reducing our GHG emissions over time. We also implement energy efficiency improvements to reduce GHG emissions. Safripol also uses the most effective polymer production technology to improve operational efficiencies. We promote sustainable consumption through the LPR campaign.

Q5: How does Safripol leverage partnerships to achieve the SDGs (SDG 17)?
A5: Safripol forms partnerships with customers and brand owners on circular polymer solutions and sustainable products, advances plastics sustainability through its annual Sustainability Conference and the LPR platform, participates in industry bodies and PROs, and engages in government regulatory matters, including the UNEA Plastics Treaty discussions.

Safripol’s SDG Commitment: See How Our Core Values Drive Action. Download the Sustainability Report