The winners of the inaugural Circle Awards has been announced and Planet Protector Packaging’s Woolpack innovation was recognised on the night, taking out the Materials & Process category.
The Circle Awards is a new awards program that champions businesses, organisations, projects and people shaping the circular economy in Australia and New Zealand. It aims to spotlight products and services adopting circular practices that span all aspects of our day-to-day lives, while shining a spotlight on the sustainable options available in the market for those interested in its implementation.
In the packaging space, insulated packaging technology Woolpack by Planet Protector Packaging (PPP) took out top honours in the Materials and Process category.
PPP has, to date, replaced 7.2 million expanded polystyrene (EPS) boxes in supply chains with its sustainable solutions across ANZ, which represents 3500 tonnes of waste wool that has been diverted from landfill and found new life through Woolpack.
This recovered wool has provided close to $7 million as a new revenue stream and higher yield to sheep farmers.
They have recycled 2.65 million Woolpack solutions through a closed-loop recycling initiative implemented in partnership with NZ-based My Food Bag.
“The inventiveness of this entry is what made it the winner – literally taking rubbish off the floor and turning it into a sustainable and scalable circular solution,” explains Jen Walker, head of public relations & communications at TerraCycle.
“PPP also received bonus points for encouraging their partners to develop circular programs for their product. Providing an alternative to polystyrene has massive appeal and we liked that they are already looking to expand beyond the original solution.“
To fund its expansion and support its mission to eliminate EPS from the supply chain and our oceans, Planet Protector Packaging has recently launched a crowdfunding campaign with a target of $3 million. Read more here.
Other winners announced were:
- Architecture & Construction – Pavilions Residences by Mirvac
- Art & Design – Voronoi Runners
- B2B – RePlated
- Community, Education & Research – Good360
- Events – Bettercup
- Fashion – The Very Good Bra
- Food & Drink – Ulu Hye Mylk Bases
- Health & Beauty – The Hello Cup
- Home Garden & Utilities – Great Wrap
- Lifestyle & Tech – ettitude
- People’s Choice – The Swag
- One To Watch – Fungi Solutions
- Shape Shifter – Dangling Xiao
The Awards program was established by The World’s Most Rubbish (TWMR), in partnership with NSW Circular, The Bravery and Urban List.
