Australia’s pioneering salad manufacturer One Harvest has strengthened its commitment to shaping a sustainable future by announcing all plastic packaging is to be recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.
As a member of ANZPAC Plastic Pact, One Harvest will work in collaboration with other key players to bring to life a shared vision of a circular economy for plastic. Together through shared knowledge, investment and industry lead innovation the Pact will implement solutions tailored to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands region.
In a press release, the company said it was committed to achieving four key goals set out by the Pact. These include eliminating unnecessary and problematic packaging through redesign, innovation and alternative delivery models. Increasing plastic packaging collected and effectively recycled by at least 25 per cent for each geography within the ANZPAC region.
Other commitments include averaging 25 per cent recycled content in plastic packaging across the region and the aforementioned 100 per cent of plastic packaging to be reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging by 2025.
Stephen Humpage, general manager non-produce urged greater action. “While plastic has given us the opportunity to create new and innovative products and recipe formats for our customers that can stay fresh for days longer than before, we need to act now,” Humpage said.
“Our products touch thousands of consumers each and every day, committing to a solution is an important milestone for One Harvest and our people.
“In the past year, One Harvest have implemented a number of initiatives across our four sites to eliminate problematic plastics and have re-engineered through in house technologies to reduce and optimise our current packaging formats. The business continues to increase the level of post-consumer recycled packaging in numerous packaging designs,” he added.
Humpage also said the company recognises there is more work and innovation required to rethink the way it designs, uses and reuses plastic to ensure a better future.
ANZPAC estimates that in Australia, only 18 per cent of all plastic packaging is recovered for future use and that by 2040 if action isn’t taken, the volume of plastic in the market will double and the annual volume of plastic entering the world’s oceans will almost triple.
Justin Pennock, chief executive of One Harvest said the company is dedicated to helping Australian’s live better lives through the food it produces.
“Our commitment to ANZPAC, was a simple decision for our business; sharing our knowledge, collaborating on issues we are facing is the key to ensuring that we are shaping a sustainable future for generations to come,” Pennock said.
