Country: Australia and New Zealand

Category: Packaging Materials and Components

In an era marked by increasing environmental consciousness, the packaging industry bears a crucial responsibility to champion sustainability. This groundbreaking initiative reimagines the recycling process for meat trays, a sector traditionally plagued by complex material combinations and contamination challenges. Born from a powerful collaboration between industry leaders Pact, Cleanaway, Hilton, and Woolworths, this project embodies a profound commitment to environmental stewardship and innovation.

PACKAGING AND RECYCLING INNOVATION
Mono-material PET Trays: Central to the project's success is the innovative design of the trays. Constructed entirely from PET, including the film, these trays are engineered for seamless integration with kerbside recycling programs. This mono-material approach eliminates the complexities associated with mixed materials, ensuring effortless recyclability and maximizing resource recovery.

Circular Tray-to-Tray Recycling: At the heart of this innovation lies Australia's first circular tray-to-tray recycling system for PET thermoformed meat trays. This closed-loop approach ensures that used trays are not merely discarded but become valuable resources for the creation of new trays. This strategy significantly reduces waste and optimizes resource utilization, marking a transformative step towards a truly circular economy within the packaging sector.

VALUE RECOVERY AND VIRGIN PLASTIC REDUCTION Tray-to-Tray Recycled Content: The Moisturelock™ trays are manufactured using 10-15% recycled tray material, demonstrating a tangible commitment to utilizing recycled content and closing the loop on plastic packaging. This integration of recycled content underscores the project's dedication to resource efficiency and minimizing environmental impact. Overall Recycled PET Content: In addition to the tray-to-tray recycled content, the Moisturelock™ trays incorporate a remarkable 85% recycled PET. This high percentage of recycled PET further reduces the reliance on virgin plastic, contributing to the conservation of natural resources and the reduction of plastic waste.

CONSUMER EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT Consumer-friendly Recycling: Recognizing that consumer participation is the cornerstone of effective recycling initiatives, our solution prioritizes simplicity and clarity. The attached film eliminates any ambiguity regarding its removal before disposal, streamlining the recycling process for consumers. This user-friendly design encourages greater engagement and compliance, amplifying the project's positive environmental impact.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
Reduced Waste: By diverting an estimated 48 million trays from landfill annually, the project makes a significant contribution to mitigating plastic waste and its associated ecological burden. This substantial reduction in landfill waste underscores the project's commitment to environmental preservation.

Lightweighting: Through innovative engineering and material optimization, the trays have achieved a remarkable 20% reduction in weight. This weight saving translates to reduced transportation costs and a minimized carbon footprint

Reduced Plastic Consumption: A substantial decrease in plastic use by 270 tonnes annually..

Reduced Carbon Footprint: By diverting trays from landfill, the initiative is projected to reduce CO2 emissions by 786 tonnes annually. This significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions contributes to the global effort to combat climate change and its associated environmental consequences.