Plastic Packaging

India generates approximately 26,000 tonnes of plastic waste daily, presenting a significant environmental challenge that affects landfills, waterways, and ecosystems. Mohd Suhail’s Athar Packaging Solutions is transforming this waste into affordable, eco-friendly packaging, having partnered with over 700 businesses across 60 cities since its launch in 2020.

The company’s success aligns with India’s ambitious recycling goals, which aim to increase the recycling rate from 30% in 2024-25 to 80% by 2027-28 under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework.

In a win for the circular economy, Viva Energy and Intersnack ANZ are set to make new plastic snack packaging from used cooking oil collected by Cleanaway.

Viva Energy produced its first ISCC PLUS certified mass balanced bio-based polymer following the successful processing of a batch of used cooking oil (UCO) at its Geelong refinery. It is the first time UCO has been used to create bio-based polymers through Viva Energy’s catalytic cracker and adjacent polypropylene plant.

Peggy Johnson, the CEO of Agility Robotics, spoke with journalist Bob Safian on the Rapid Response podcast about the future of humanoid robots. She talked about Digit, a human-like robot made to help in warehouses and other places where it’s hard to find people to do boring or repetitive work. These robots don’t replace jobs—they help people do more and move into better, more digital roles, like managing robot systems.

In a move that aims to save around 18 tonnes of packaging waste from landfill every year, all QV tube products are now being transitioned from laminate to LDPE packaging. Laminate packaging cannot be recycled in Australia due to the recycling facilities not being able to process the components of the laminate, whereas LDPE can easily be recycled by customers in their kerbside recycle bins. 

This change signifies the company's unwavering commitment to sustainability, and reflects Ego's determination to implement changes that positively impact the environment.

In 2019, Faerch launched Evolve by Faerch for the Ready Meals market, a recipe that allows for up to 70% post-consumer recycled content, including mixed colour “jazz” bottle flakes. Building on this successful market positioning, Faerch has continued to elevate its ambitions. With the recent expansion of its Cirrec recycling facility, Faerch will, starting January 1, 2025, introduce a minimum of 40% Tray rPET in CPET trays for chilled ready meals, while retaining the same CPET properties.

The new satchels are made from certified potential* Ocean Bound Plastic (OBP) rescued from coastal communities in Southeast Asia and recycled into fit for purpose mailers for their customers – now available in three sizes on Australia Post’s Online Shop and in Post Offices.