COVER STORY
GOING BEYOND SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING KFC has made a commitment to implement more sustainable packaging options across all their outlets – however, KFC South Africa is taking their sustainability one step further, exploring a multilayered approach to its sustainability efforts.
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n 2019, KFC South Africa made their mark in sustainability histor y when they announced the removal of plastic straws in over 900 of their restaurants across South Africa. This meant the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) outlet would be eliminating approximately 60 million plastic straws a year, equivalent to 70 tons. In 2022, KFC is being even bolder, by considering moves like converting the mash & gravy containers to paper which would mean a massive reduction in plastic from its restaurants. This move forms par t of a global approach to reduce KFC’s environmental footprint – by ensuring that all of their plastic-based packaging items will be recoverable or reusable by 2025. Just two years shy of their goal, Chief Supply Chain Officer at KFC Africa, Siyabulela Ngcukana says they are looking into more than just getting rid of plastics. “Sustainability goes beyond just packaging. We are investigating Siyabulela Ngcukana, Chief Supply Chain Officer at KFC Africa
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several other avenues which will help us to effectively reduce our overall environmental impact and in fact are bolstering our full sustainability programme as a key business pillar across Africa.”
Global meets local KFC’s global division developed a 360-degree sustainability roadmap - star ting with par tnering with major suppliers globally to identify sustainable processes and alternatives in value chains across each market. Ngcukana adds that KFC SA is following a three-pronged approach which entails; reducing environmental impact, finding ways to reuse their waste, and utilising more recycled materials in their packaging. However, from a utility perspective KFC’s packaging is required to not only be useable but must uphold customer satisfaction.
“KFC remains committed to embarking on initiatives that uphold environmental standards, but we must also prioritise our customer base. Therefore, the big question for us is how we can reduce plastics without sacrificing the good customer experience,” says Ngcukana.
A 360-degree approach to packaging “Paper has its own environmental impact, and we remain focused on ensuring that our consumer fiber-based packaging is sustainably sourced from responsible sources - be it recycled material, virgin material or a mix of both across our packaging por tfolio. As a responsible corporate citizen, we continue to par tner with packaging suppliers that source responsibly as well as par tners that promote forestr y practices that are environmentally sustainable.” KFC SA has already eliminated the use of single use plastics where possible, by replacing their plastic straws and other disposable packaging with more sustainably sourced alternatives. For the plastic packaging still in their system they are focused on moving the plastic to the most recyclable state possible. “There has been an increase in deliver y across all industries due to the COVID-19 pandemic and this has put a lot of pressure and demand on packaging globally. As KFC, we know that our usage on packaging will increase and that’s why we are pushing to make our packaging as environmentally friendly as possible.”
Exploring alternative energy sources Ngcukana says KFC SA, together with some supply par tners, are working on a project which will see cer tain ingredients being repurposed into fuel to power deliveries to their restaurants. This type of thinking ties directly into circular economy framework and forms a critical par t of reducing, repurposing, and reusing materials in our value chain for the greater good of our environment.
