Policy Brief
Improving the recyclability of woven polypropylene (PP) sacks in Kenya
Supporting circular economy goals through practical standards and design updates
Summary
Woven PP sacks (gunias) are used across Kenya for transporting bulk goods like rice, sugar, cement and fertiliser. They are strong and reusable, but at end-of-life they are difficult to recycle. The challenge lies in how they are made, labelled and handled. Kenya’s new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations create a useful opportunity to revisit how these sacks are designed, identified and managed. This brief proposes simple, cost-effective improvements to make woven PP sacks easier to recover and recycle.
Introduction
Woven PP sacks are everywhere. In marketplaces, ports and farms, they are the packaging of choice for wholesale goods. Once emptied, they are often reused for secondary tasks, from household storage to building site use, and eventually discarded. Because they are lightweight and durable, they can travel far and remain in the environment for a long time.
In places like Lamu, Kenya, discarded sacks are regularly found washed up on beaches or dumped in unmanaged sites. The Flipflopi Project alone has recovered an estimated 2,000 kg of PP sacks per month in Lamu County, which has a population of just 20,000 people. This points to a much larger national challenge.
The bags are mostly made of woven polypropylene (PP), with some made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Although technically recyclable, they are rarely recycled in practice. This is due to a mix of material issues, poor labelling, and design limitations. The result is a product that performs well during use, but poorly at end-of-life.
With Kenya’s new Sustainable Waste Management (Extended Producer Responsibility) Regulations, 2024 now in place, there is a timely chance to improve the way woven PP sacks are handled. Aligning design and labelling standards with circular economy principles can help reduce environmental leakage, support local recyclers, and create more value from a widely used product.
Key issues
1. Lack of material information
Woven sacks rarely carry clear or reliable information about what they are made of. Many contain pigments, fillers and stabilisers that are not declared. This makes sorting difficult and reduces the quality of the recyclate. For local recyclers, this creates risk: even a small amount of unknown material can contaminate a whole batch.
2. Degradation from sun exposure
These sacks are often used and stored outdoors, especially in markets and ports. Without UV protection, the material breaks down in sunlight, producing microplastics and reducing its potential for recycling.
3. Poor labelling and product identification
The sacks often carry printed labels or tags that fall off or become unreadable. This makes it hard for recyclers to distinguish between different types of plastic or additives, especially when sorting by hand. Some bags are visually similar but have very different properties.
4. Missed opportunity for standardisation
Because these sacks are manufactured to different specifications, often with no regional alignment, recyclers face constant uncertainty. Introducing simple, consistent identification systems, such as colour-coded strips woven into the material, would make sorting much easier and reduce the risk of contamination.
Policy recommendations
To improve the recyclability of woven polypropylene (PP) sacks and reduce environmental leakage, we recommend the following actions:
1. Update existing packaging standards
Review and revise current Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) specifications, including:
- KS 2256:2011 (woven polyolefin sacks for cement)
- KS 135:2008 (woven polyolefin sacks for sugar)
These updates should include clear recyclability criteria, labelling requirements, and basic design rules that support waste recovery.
2. Require clear material identification
Introduce low-cost, durable identification systems, such as woven-in colour-coded strips, to indicate:
- Type of plastic used (e.g. PP, HDPE)
- Use of additives or fillers
- Manufacturer information
This approach avoids reliance on external labels or ink-based printing, which often fade or fall off.
3. Mandate UV stabilisation
Require all woven sacks used for outdoor or transport applications to include UV protection. This helps extend the life of the bag during reuse and prevents early breakdown into microplastics.
4. Encourage regional standard alignment
Work with regional bodies like the EAC and African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) to harmonise design and labelling standards across borders, enabling more effective recycling and cross-border trade in recyclables.
5. Integrate into EPR implementation
Use Kenya’s new EPR framework to assign clear end-of-life responsibility for woven PP sacks. This could include:
- Collection targets for manufacturers and importers
- Fee structures that reflect recyclability
- Support for local recyclers and sorters (including informal waste pickers)
Implementation pathway
These recommendations can be phased in over 12–24 months through collaboration between regulators, manufacturers and recyclers:
| Step | Timeline | Lead actors | Key activities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Stakeholder consultations | 0–3 months | KEBS, NEMA, industry associations | Gather input from manufacturers, recyclers, and government actors on practical labelling and design updates |
| 2. Drafting and revision of standards | 3–9 months | KEBS, MoEF | Revise KS standards to reflect improved design, labelling and recyclability requirements |
| 3. Voluntary trials | 6–12 months | Manufacturers, PROs | Pilot woven-in labelling and UV-stabilised sacks in select counties or sectors |
| 4. Public awareness and training | 9–18 months | County governments, civil society | Support awareness campaigns and training for sorters and recyclers on new identifiers |
| 5. National rollout and enforcement | 12–24 months | NEMA, KEBS, county governments | Link standards to EPR compliance and procurement policies; monitor uptake and adjust as needed |