By PETCO,
At Petco, supporting women-led projects is a strategic investment in the strength, resilience and inclusivity of South Africa’s recycling ecosystem. Women entrepreneurs play a critical role in local economies, often carrying multiple responsibilities as business owners, primary caregivers and, in many households, the main breadwinners.
This matters because women-led enterprises are often deeply embedded in the communities they serve. Their businesses do more than just collect and recover recyclables: they generate income, sustain households, support local livelihoods, and strengthen community resilience. In South Africa, where women still bear a disproportionate burden of poverty, inequality and unemployment, targeted support for women-owned enterprises can help unlock broader economic and social value.
Many women in the informal waste sector operate under difficult conditions. Safety risks, social stigma, limited access to finance and weaker support networks can all constrain growth, even when these businesses are viable and impactful. Yet the women in this space continue to show resilience, adaptability and long-term commitment.
Research from the GEM South Africa Special Report found that women face greater barriers than men in sustaining businesses beyond the start-up phase, with almost double the proportion of men owning established businesses compared with women, and with women more likely to exit because of personal and family pressures or difficulty accessing finance. In other words, supporting women entrepreneurs is about correcting structural barriers that limit economic participation and growth. It’s about meaningful inclusion.
Supporting women-led enterprises creates multiplier effects. GEM South Africa notes that women entrepreneurs tend to allocate more of their funds toward health, education and family welfare, which means their success often translates into stronger households and healthier communities. The Department of Small Business Development has also said that the economic empowerment of women and their enterprises is critical for sustainable development and economic transformation in South Africa.
For Petco, this is directly relevant to the circular economy. A stronger and more inclusive recycling sector depends on reliable collection networks and businesses that can scale. By backing women-owned businesses and cooperatives, Petco is helping build a more resilient supply chain while advancing gender inclusion and economic participation.
Over the past four years, Petco has supported women-led enterprises with over R4 million worth of equipment and infrastructure to ensure that the businesses can retain employees and create employment opportunities, improve operational efficiency and act as reliable community-based off-takers of recyclables.
One inspiring example of this impact is LW Recycling and Trade, founded in 2015 by Loretta Waterboer. Starting from her backyard and collecting small volumes of recyclable material, Loretta has grown into one of the most prominent businesswomen in the Durbanville area. In 2021, Petco recognised her as the Top Woman in Collection and Recycling, a milestone that reflects what becomes possible when women are given the right support and enabling environment.
Petco remains committed to creating an enabling environment for women in waste by offering targeted support that empowers women waste pickers. Through grocery hampers, self-care products, full personal protective equipment (PPE), and special Women’s Day events, in addition to our regular support, we continue to recognise their resilience and celebrate their contribution to the sector.
Through the Petco Empowerment Fund, we have intentionally designed our funding criteria to promote gender balance among beneficiaries, ensuring that women receive the resources and opportunities they need to level up.
This shows that supporting women is part of a deliberate strategy to strengthen South Africa’s collection and recycling ecosystem for the long term. The evidence is clear that women-led enterprises face distinct barriers, but it is equally clear that when these barriers are addressed, the return is broader economic inclusion, stronger communities and a more resilient circular economy.
