Australia Post

Australia Post commits to recycled plastic satchels

Australia Post has announced that 100 per cent of its plastic satchel range will be made from recycled content by 2021.

Making the announcement at the National Plastics Summit in Canberra, Executive General Manager Community and Consumer Nicole Sheffield said the commitment underlined the company’s drive towards a sustainable future.

“Australia Post continues to incorporate sustainable design principles in the development of our packaging, as we reduce greenhouse gas emissions, non-renewable resource use and water consumption,” she said.

“As online shopping grows, Australia Post is focused on reducing the quantity of non-recycled packaging that moves through our network.”

The announcement comes on the back of Australia Post joining with one of its major customers, Country Road, to launch its first recycled plastic satchel in December 2019.

“The new satchel is made of recycled plastic, sending a clear signal to the market that major Australian brands are committed to eliminating the use of virgin plastic across our packaging supply chain,” Ms Sheffield said.

Australia Post has been a signatory of the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation APCO since 2005, joining other major businesses and government to work towards the national packaging targets.

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Nespresso recycles used coffee pods

Nespresso is scaling up its recycling system for used aluminium capsules to tackle the issue of coffee pod waste.

Nespresso General Manager Loic Rethore said the company’s investment in the system ensures customers can recycle their used Nespresso capsules, regardless of how remotely they live.

To celebrate the initiative, Nespresso have launched a series of limited-edition pens made with aluminium from used coffee pods in partnership with Swiss writing and drawing instrument manufacturers Caran d’Ache.

“We’re delighted to be partnering once again with Caran d’Ache to bring our customers this accessory, a true celebration of the infinite recyclability of aluminium and the value of this commodity in the circular economy,” Mr Rethore said.

“The pen demonstrates how up-cycling can result in the creation of design objects, giving new value to what was once considered waste.”

Mr Rethore said there are four ways customers can recycle their used coffee capsules, including participating in a bulk recycling collection initiative, returning used aluminium capsules to a Nespresso Boutique, dropping them off at a participating florist collection point or posting used capsules back to Nespresso using a special Australia Post satchel.

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New national targets set within 2025 packaging plan

New targets within the 2025 plan have been outlined alongside the launch of the Australasian Recycling Label.

The new targets aim to aim to increase the average recycled content within all packaging by 30 per cent and phase out problematic and unnecessary single-use plastic packaging through design, innovation or the introduction of alternatives.

Additionally, the targets aim to ensure 70 per cent of plastic packaging is recycled or composted.

These build on the previous announcement of a target to achieve 100 per cent of Australian packaging being recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2025.

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The targets build on commitments made by federal, state and territory environment ministers and the President for the Australian Local Government Association earlier in April this year.

Industry representatives and environmental groups support the targets including Aldi, ALGA, Amcor, Australia Post, Boomerang Alliance, Chep, Close the Loop, Coca-Cola Amatil, Coles, Detmold, Goodman Fielder, Lion, Metcash, Nestlé, Orora, Pact Group, Planet Ark, Redcycle, Simplot, Suez, Tetra Pak, Unilever, Veolia, Visy and Woolworths.

Woolworths General Manager, Quality and Sustainability Alex Holt highlighted the importance of this collaboration.

“We’re really pleased to see such a wide range of industry players come together in support of such a worthy goal. Moving towards a circular economy won’t be easy, but we have the right mix of organisations on board to help make it a reality,” Mr Holt said.

Federal Environment Minister Melissa Price congratulated the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) and the initial working group of businesses that are supporting the targets.

Minister Price has also officially launched the Australasian recycling Label to help achieve the 2025 National Packaging Targets, developed by Planet Ark, PREP Design and APCO to help consumers better understand how to recycle packaging.

“The Australasian Recycling Label provides people with easy to understand recycling information when they need it most, in those few seconds when they are deciding what bin the package goes in. The label removes confusion and reduces waste,” Ms Price said.

With more than 200 recycling labels currently being used in Australia, the new system aims to reduce confusion and contamination in the waste stream.

Nestlé Head of Corporate and External Relations Oceania Margaret Stuart said the inclusion of the label on Netslé’s packaging was a demonstration of the company’s commitment to sustainability.

“More and more people who buy our products want to know how to manage packing waste, so we have committed to implementing the Australasian Recycling Label across all our locally controlled products by 2020,” Ms Stuart said.

Unilever ANZ CEO Clive Stiff has said the announcements are a critical step towards greater collective action on increasing the nationals recycling capability.

“Plastic packaging waste represents an $80 billion loss to the global economy every year. The benefits of the circular economy approach are clear for business and the environment – the more effective use of materials means lower costs and less waste,” Mr Stiff said.

“We are proud to have recently announced that bottles of popular Unilever products like OMO, Dove, Sunsilk, Surf and TRESemmé will soon be made with at least 25% Australian recycled plastic.

“This is just the start for us and no business can create a circular economy in isolation. Heavy lifting is needed from all players involved – suppliers, packaging converters, brand owners, policy makers and retailers, collectors, sorters and recyclers. We need a complete shift in how we think about and use resources.”

Planet Ark provide councils packaging recycling label webinars

Planet Ark is increasing its efforts to educate Australians about Australasia Recycling Labels, including councils and educators.

In partnership with the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), the Australasian Recycling Label has entered into a new phase which will allow more companies to adopt it. Organisations such as Australia Post, Blackmores, Nestlé, Unilever and Woolworths have already pledged their commitment to the label.

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It has been designed to be easy to understand and show what needs to be done with each piece of packaging to dispose of it in the best way.

Because councils play an important part in the recycling process and are the source of the evidence base used by the label, Planet Ark is hosting a series of free webinars in the coming weeks.

Council and waste industry staff members that are interested can sign up by clicking here.

Webinars are planned for the following dates:

  • August 28 – 11am AEST
  • September 4 – 11am AEST
  • September 12 – 1pm AEST
  • September 20 – 1pm AEST

Mobile Muster calls on Australians to recycle phones in storage

MobileMuster

Mobile Muster is calling on Australians to recycle their old mobile phone after the program was showcased on the ABC’s War on Waste.

The national government accredited mobile phone recycling program is aiming to encourage Australians to take their phones out of storage and recycle them. The program is funded by all of the major handset manufacturers and network carriers to provide the free recycling system.

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Mobile Muster says there are currently more mobile phones in storage than the number of people in the country and estimates that by 2028, that number will reach almost 30 million.

Research shows that three out of four Australians are aware that they can recycle their phones, with Mobile Muster aiming to educate people on how they can recycle responsibly through its program.

Consumer awareness campaigns run by Mobile Muster highlight the environmental and social importance of recycling phones.

It also works closely with councils, workplaces, retailers and schools to raise awareness of mobile phone recycling, while also partnering with charities to give mobile users an added incentive to recycle their phones while doing good for communities.

Image Credit: Mobile Muster

Mobile Muster has established more than 35000 drop off points across Australia and have an agreement with AusPost where phones can be posted for free to be recycled.

Almost $45 million has been invested to develop a solid collection network and awareness campaigns over the last 20 years.

The program recycles 99 per cent of the material from phones and accessories, including glass, plastics and metals, reducing the need for virgin materials.

Mobile Muster Manager Spyro Kalos said most Australians know that we shouldn’t throw their phones in the bin, but many people hang on to them just in case they’re needed which often leads to them being forgotten in a draw.

“We know that recycling can be confusing sometimes, so we cut through that by providing a free and simple way for people to easily recycle their mobile phones. To date, we’ve recycled over 1,300 tonnes of mobile phones and accessories, including 13 million handsets and batteries. But there is always more to do,” he said.

“With millions of phones lying dormant at home, the e-waste problem is getting bigger and we all need to be talking about it more. Mobile phones can and should be recycled when they reach the end of their lives. We can all do our part to fight the war on waste, and it starts at home. That’s why we’re calling all Australians to find their old phones and recycle them the right way – today,” said Mr Kalos.

Featured Image Credit: Mobile Muster

Australia Post launches its Environmental Action Plan

As part of its commitment to reduce carbon emissions, Australia Post has announced its first ever Environmental Action Plan. The announcement was made on World Environment Day.

The program is part of Australia Post’s commitment to a greater environmentally sustainable model. By 2020 the company aims to reduce its carbon footprint by 25 per cent.

This is estimated to save Australia Post up to $10 million annually.

With a network covering 11.7 million addresses and including the operation of some 16,000 vehicles, Australia Post is the country’s largest delivery network.

The Environmental Action Plan according to Janelle Hopkins, Australia Post, Chief Financial Officer, will help drive sustainability and allow the business to explore new avenues to improving its customer service.

“That saving of $10 million every year enables Australia Post to invest in improving and creating services our customers want to us,” said Hopkins.

“Since 2000 we have reduced our carbon emissions by 20 per cent, which is significant given domestic parcel volumes are continuing to grow, and more than two million parcels were delivered in a single day during Christmas last year.”

Hopkins said Australia Post in the last eight years had been working aggressively to improve its emissions. In 2017 the company installed the largest single-roof solar panel system in Australia at its Sydney Parcels Facility.

“We are seeing immediate returns as we unlock renewable energy at some of our busiest sites which helps to insulate the business against rising energy prices,” said Hopkins.

“Our first ever Environmental Action Plan is a step towards continuing to reduce carbon emissions and achieve our target of a 25 per cent reduction by 2020.”

In a statement Hopkins said Australia Post was also looking to leverage its existing network to support communities.

“Our partnerships with groups like TerraCycle, Planet Ark and Mobile Muster, has seen us remove 26,000 tonnes of material from landfill. We also helped develop the world-first Nespresso recycling satchel to send used coffee pods to a purpose-built recycling centre – and out own satchel packaging is now completely recyclable.”

“We’re excited to see Australia Post make an even greater commitment towards delivering better commercial and environmental outcomes for the Australian community,” said Hopkins.

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