Dole has announced its Bobby Bananas will be packaged in a new, smaller tape - which will reduce the amount of plastic destined for landfill in New Zealand.
Changing from the previous plastic bag packaging to the new tape will prevent approximately 16 tonnes of plastic from going to landfill each year with this amount able to be reduced even further via recycling, following Dole’s new Soft Plastics Recycling Scheme membership.
The shift to the plastic tape followed extensive trials using several different materials; with Dole currently underway with research for further improved sustainable packaging options.
These efforts are part of the company’s ‘The Dole Promise’ initiative that aims to increase access to sustainable nutrition, and decrease fruit loss, packaging waste and carbon emissions.
Steve Barton, general manager of Dole, said that Bobby Banana’s packaging update and The Dole Promise reflected the company’s commitment to change that helps people and the planet, particularly considering the challenges of the current climate.
“We’re proud to implement a change that creates a positive impact as we work towards a more equitable and sustainable future,” said Barton.
“It’s our responsibility as the people of today to provide a better planet for the generations of the future and updating Bobby Banana’s packaging is one small step toward achieving that goal.”
New Zealanders can drop their Bobby Banana tapes off at Soft Plastics Recycling Scheme drop off points, where they are collected and provided to Future Post, which recycles the plastics into fence posts, vegetable garden frames, and parking bumpers.
Along with reducing the impact of plastic waste, recycling Bobby Banana tapes and soft plastics into useful items will benefit Kiwi organisations such as Oke Charity, which provides South Auckland primary schools with sustainable fruit and vegetable gardens.
Dole is the foundation partner of Oke Charity and provides the organisation with financial and volunteer support to help achieve its goal of building these unique outdoor classrooms.
“Creating change requires collective action, and we’re asking Kiwis to get on board and do their small bit to help. If every New Zealander recycled their Bobby Banana tapes, it would be enough to create 158 garden beds – a number that would make a huge difference to charities such as our partner Oke Charity,” said Barton.
New Zealand is the first market to roll out the new Bobby Banana tapes, with the learnings set to drive similar change in other Asia markets such as Korea and Japan.
