Visy is encouraging Australians to consider packaging choices that support a circular economy as part of Plastic Free July, promoting recyclable alternatives to single-use plastics and providing resources to help improve recycling practices.
In a news release, the packaging and recycling company said correctly disposing of soft plastics is important to maintaining recycling systems. Where possible, consumers are encouraged to take soft plastics to one of more than 700 collection points across Australia. If that is not possible, soft plastics should be placed in the red-lidded general waste bin rather than the household recycling bin.
According to Visy, soft plastics such as bags and wrappers can interfere with the operation of materials recovery facilities (MRFs), which are designed to sort recyclable materials collected through kerbside recycling.
The company said soft plastics can become tangled in sorting equipment, leading to unplanned shutdowns, contaminate other recyclable materials and increase operational and safety risks.
To help consumers recycle correctly, Visy has made available a range of educational resources, including an interactive recycling game, a printable household recycling guide and free recycling and sustainability lesson plans for foundation, primary and secondary school students.
As part of its Plastic Free July message, Visy also highlighted several fibre-based alternatives to single-use plastic packaging.
These include Visy Paper bubble wrap, which the company said uses 73 per cent less energy over its lifetime when recycled compared with plastic bubble wrap, as well as recyclable paper bags for retail applications.
Visy also promoted Visy Tread, a temporary surface protection product made in Australia from 100 per cent recycled fibre materials, and Visycell, an Australian-made fibre-based thermal insulation and protective packaging material designed as an alternative to expanded polystyrene that can be recycled through the kerbside recycling bin.
Visy said the products form part of its efforts to develop packaging solutions that reduce reliance on single-use plastics while supporting recycling and resource recovery.
