PETCO's specific objective is the promotion and improvement of waste management and recycling of post consumer Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) products on behalf of all stakeholders in the PET industry in South Africa.

Groundwork was laid five years earlier when representatives of Coca-Cola, resin manufacturers, converters and bottlers, formed the PET Committee.

An early initiative was the creation of SAPR (South African Polyester Recyclers). Stakeholders, led by Coca-Cola, then decided on a more broadly based approach covering educational issues, partnerships with role-players beyond the industry, the fostering of strong PET collection streams and a widening of the recycling effort by including other recyclers in the national strategy.