The Australasian Waste & Recycling Expo (AWRE), on show at ICC Sydney on 24 and 25 July, showcased advanced solutions in waste management, recycling, and resource recovery.
PKN took a closer look at innovations in packaging aiming at reducing environmental impact and aligning with the 2025 National Pcakaging Targets for increasing recycling rates and minimising landfill contributions.
Charopy, known for its smart bin technology, presented solutions to eliminate contamination in public area container deposit scheme (CDS) bins and track non-CDS packaging for wash and reuse systems.
Partnership with Huskee will allow customers to borrow reusable cups or food containers with a €3 deposit tracked via the HuskeeSwap App. This partnership aims to simplify the borrowing, returning, reusing process through geolocation and loyalty programs.
Thinkpac, a Melbourne-based company, highlighted its work in importing and distributing soft plastic products made from certified post-consumer recycled materials. Its products include ReCree8 Resin, bin liners, hand pallet wrap, and carry bags.
Thinkpac’s general manager, Peg Shi Ng, discussed the challenge of obtaining clean and homogeneous waste for mechanical recycling and emphasised their commitment to maintaining high quality through certifications like ISO and GRS.
The Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) hosted a session featuring Pippa Corry from Philo & Co and Ralph Moyle from AIP. They gave insights on how to meet global and regional packaging design standards.
They also discussed sustainable packaging solutions, advancements in material science, and strategies for achieving the 2025 targets.
Moyle focused on the importance of using recyclable or reusable materials and adhering to global and regional packaging design standards.
Corry stressed the need for a circular economy, innovative design, and reducing consumption, noting that about 14 per cent of packaging in the Australian market is not recyclable by design.
“Circular design is an approach that considers system thinking, life cycle thinking, and human-centred design,” Corry said. She outlined steps for businesses to align with regulatory changes and emphasised simplicity and standardisation in packaging design for scalability and sustainability.
AWRE 2024 underscored the critical role of innovation and collaboration in driving sustainable practices within the packaging industry, with companies like Charopy and Thinkpac contributing to a sustainable future.
