Visy and Geofabrics have signed a multi-year partnership to reduce the number of plastic bottles going into landfill by using rPET that is not fit for bottle-to-bottle recycling to make sustainable geotextiles for use in the road, rail, and mining industries.
Traditional geotextiles are made from unsustainable virgin materials. Geofabrics says its Bidim Green and Sealmac Green are the only Australian made recycled alternatives, replacing offshore sourced polymer with Australian sourced recycled polymer – direct from Visy’s recycling plant in Smithfield, New South Wales.
Visy chief operating officer Mark De Wit said the partnership is a good example of how Visy’s innovative approach can work with partners’ product development processes to create practical and sustainable solutions.
“Geofabrics are making great progress in the sustainability space and, specifically, through the innovative use of rPET in manufacturing a range of products that will be deployed in building Australia’s key infrastructure,” he said.
“Visy has a long history of developing technologies that change the face of the industry, and our success is cemented through collaborations with like-minded businesses, such as Geofabrics, who have a strong orientation to sustainability and a commitment to making a positive long-term contribution to the wider community. Together this new partnership helps us make further steps towards strengthening Australia’s recycling industry, while creating local jobs.”
Geofabrics Australasia managing director and CEO Dennis Grech said the relationship between Visy and Geofabrics is a real win-win for Australia.
“For the first time, Australian sourced recycled plastic bottles are converted into geotextiles that build Australia’s national infrastructure: the roads we drive on, our rail networks and our mining assets,” he said.
“Why does this matter? We are taking plastic waste out of landfills and out of our waterways and oceans and, in doing so, we are building Australia’s recycling industry and creating jobs for all Australians. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do at Geofabrics and Visy is a wonderful and supportive partner in fulfilling our ambitions for a greener Australia.”
