Producers of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic in South Africa realised that collectively addressing their responsibilities with respect to post-consumer waste PET packaging would be more effective and efficient than government-imposed regulation. Thus, PETCO (PET Recycling Company) was established at the end of 2004 as an industry-driven and financed national recycling initiative, based on the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). The goal being to capitalise on the expected growth in the market for recycled PET and to act as the vehicle through which the PET industry could self-regulate and co-ordinate its recycling activities. PETCO, as a non-profit company, is not involved in the physical collection or recycling of waste PET in South Africa, choosing to remain outside of the PET recycling value chain. Instead, it acts as a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) that financially supports, on behalf of its members, activities along the waste PET value chain. PETCO members include brand-owners, resin producers, converters (who manufacture bottles from PET resin) and bottlers.