At Happy Culture, we’re dedicated to cultivating a conscious and caring ethos at the heart of our business.
As we grow, so does our commitment to creating a positive impact—taking meaningful steps to reduce our environmental footprint and uplift our communities. Guided by our north star, we strive to be a force for a happier, more balanced world for all.
We deeply value the importance of caring for the planet’s wellbeing as part of our mission to elevate wellbeing for all life on Earth. Though we acknowledge that a product-based business of our nature, within current constraints, is inevitably bound to carry an environmental footprint, it is our aim to minimise its weight, and play our part in driving the necessary evolutions towards reducing it further with time.
Priority focus points are to reduce our carbon emissions wherever possible, minimising wastage in our production and operational processes, being a channel for environmental awareness, and playing our part in driving the recycling revolution in South Africa.
In order to spread the Happy Culture goodness far and wide, packaging is both a wonderful tool and an unfortunate necessity. It is important that we align ourselves with the best solutions, in line with our ethos and vision. After thorough research and consideration, aluminium cans and PET bottles were chosen the best suited available options.
Both of these packaging types have significantly lower carbon footprints than glass, are widely recycled in South Africa and offer a more accessible price point, a necessary component to align with our mission to make healthy products more accessible. As the recycling culture and infrastructures evolve in the country, the environmental impact of these materials becomes increasingly more sustainable.
When assessing the environmental impact of packaging, it is key to understand the impact across the product’s entire life cycle, from production to disposal. PET uses significantly less energy across its life cycle than other beverage packaging alternatives, which reduces a variety of environmental impacts. PET is also inexpensive, lightweight, resealable, shatter-resistant and highly recyclable.
PET is shatterproof, which means our products can be safely enjoyed by children. PET is BPA free and contains no harmful chemicals.
PET packaging costs less- this means we can make our products more accessible to you and a greater portion of the population.
PET bottles are recyclable. Once recycled, recycled PET (rPET) can be used as a raw material for a range of new products and continues to live on in the recycling chain, therefore being a part of a circular economy, minimising input resources and waste and staying out of landfills.
In South Africa, rPET is a sought after raw material for the production of new products, such as fibre used for clothing and bags, filling for duvets and pillows, home textiles, automotive parts (carpets, sound insulation, boot linings, seat covers), industrial end-use items, and of course, new PET packaging.
In South Africa, rPET is a sought after raw material for the production of new products, such as fibre used for clothing and bags, filling for duvets and pillows, home textiles, automotive parts (carpets, sound insulation, boot linings, seat covers), industrial end-use items, and of course, new PET packaging.
Designed with a circular economy in mind, our bottles are compatible with the recycling infrastructures in SA.
We use our platform to drive recycling awareness and offer support within our community.
Our PET bottles are made with 15% Recycled PET (rPET) material. This reduces our reliance on virgin PET and supports the PET recycling chain.
In line with EPR regulations, we make contributions to registered PROs based on our usage - with the funds going towards sustainability solutions in SA.
South African municipalities and a bunch of private initiatives are making it increasingly easier for individuals and businesses to recycle, with the establishment of various kerb collection, and drop-off centres.
Many regions now have free curb side collections and even gift free recycling bags with each collection.
All you need to do is make sure to have a system to separate you recyclables from your non-recyclables at home, find the most suitable collection/drop-off service to you, and voila !
1) Separate your recycling at home / at the office. All recyclables (Plastic, Glass, Metals, Paper) to go together in transparent bag and other waste in black bag. Find more info on what items you can recycle here.
2) Inform yourself of what collection services are available in your area and find the most suitable option for you. Hopefully your area offers a free service but if not, there are plenty options available (see below for more info)!
Thank you for choosing to join the recycling revolution tribe, and contributing to a happier future for our planet.
If free collection services are not available in your area, you can sign up to one of the many private collection services available, at affordable rates.
South Africa has made significant strides in PET recycling over recent years. The country’s PET recycling rate are at 63%+, which is one of the highest in the developing world. This success is largely attributed to the efforts of PETCO.
PETCO represents the South African PET plastic industry. Along with its members, PETCO is passionately devoted to driving PET recycling, and minimising plastic pollution in South Africa.
South Africa’s PET recycling efforts focus on recovering PET bottles for use in manufacturing new products, including polyester fibers for textiles, packaging materials, and even food-grade recycled PET. The recycling rate is driven by both formal recycling programs and a large network of informal waste collectors.
Happy Culture is proud to be committed PETCO partner.
Elevating collective happiness in South Africa is our #1 mission. There are many ways in which Happy Culture wishes to be of service in this way, including through the direct elevation of individual wellbeing, and the butterfly effect which that has on collective wellbeing, as well as through contributions towards, and collaborations with, organisations dedicated to community upliftment.
It is our wish to play our part in bringing more joy and balance in the country by supporting organisations which are dedicated to elevating human wellbeing, especially in underprivileged communities. As soon as we are in a position to do so, we will begin to share a % of profits to such organisations (if you have any suggestions, we would love to receive them !).
For now, we are contributing in our small way by regularly sponsoring stock for community upliftment events – if you would like to collaborate with us in this way, don’t hesitate to send us an email.
As the ground beneath our feet solidifies, and our branches able to spread wider, we look forward to sharing the fruits of our success with a greater portion of the community, and for Happy Culture to serve as a vehicle for greater happiness in South Africa. Watch this space for more updates on our progress in this space as time.
Increasing collective happiness in South Africa is our #1 mission. There are many ways in which Happy Culture wishes to be of service in this way, including through the direct elevation of individual wellbeing, and the butterfly effect which that has on collective wellbeing, as well as through contributions towards, and collaborations with, organisations dedicated to community upliftment.
It is our wish to play our part in bringing more joy and balance in the country by supporting organisations which are dedicated to elevating human wellbeing, especially in underprivileged communities. As soon as we are in a position to do so, we will begin to share a % of profits to such organisations (if you have any suggestions, we would love to receive them !).
For now, we are contributing in our small way by regularly sponsoring stock for community upliftment events – if you would like to collaborate with us in this way, don’t hesitate to send us an email.
As the ground beneath our feet solidifies, and our branches able to spread wider, we look forward to sharing the fruits of our success with a greater portion of the community, and for Happy Culture to serve as a vehicle for greater happiness in South Africa. Watch this space for more updates on our progress in this space as time.
