It was standing room only on the ecoporium by Ball & Doggett stand at APPEX, when Asaf Weis, MD of Vacupack, and Caitlyn Richards, group sustainable sourcing manager for Coles, shared their ideas on the war on waste, and the use of plastics in packaging.
Weis began by highlighting the importance of having credibility to succeed in your sustainability strategy. “There have been some huge failings lately,” he said, citing the REDcycle debacle as a case in point.
His company, Vacupack, has been focusing on using data to strengthen its own accreditations, which includes reporting all the way up the supply chain. “Are the suppliers also fulfilling their commitments to ESG?” was a question he posed to the audience.
Richards reinforced the importance of data, saying that it cannot be underestimated in streamlining sustainability initiatives. This, she demonstrated by pointing out that, “From even small changes, Coles moved to 55 per cent reduction in material.”
She also said that Coles is working hard towards encouraging customers to choose more sustainable options and ensuring that sustainability does not mean a higher price tag.
Weis was very keen to promote his idea that there is no pathway to net zero by 2050 without plastics. “Plastic is a technology,” was a key point he stressed.
“Packaging should be considered as a resource, not as waste,” he said, asking the audience if they have ever seen plastic cash floating around in the sea. In Weis’ eyes, plastic is a resource that’s value depends on how it is used.
“Plastic is fantastic. It’s the most amazing material we have. It can do so many things.”
Weis said he was opposed to bans on single-use plastic, as this limits the innovations that can happen, such as compostables and other alternatives.
“Plastic continues to evolve, we shouldn’t throw it away because we feel we can’t handle it,” he said.
“There is no silver bullet with packaging,” Richards added, saying that brands need to figure out what the best option is for them, depending on their situation and requirements.
