Green Office Program
In 2005 National Foods commenced a green office program to address the environmental impact of our office activities.
The Green Office program involves;
- Green Office champions to manage changes and identify opportunities
- Close the Loop Printer cartridge and toner recycling
- Default double side printing and fax settings
- Paper and cardboard recycling services for all employees
- Communication of progress and changes through emails, newsletters and posters
- Increased recovery of plastics, cans and other recyclable packaging
- Collection of office fluorescent light tubes for recycling
- Mobile phone recycling
- Participation in Ride to Work Day
In the first month of the Bentley Green Office Program, over 4 tonnes of paper and cardboard were recycled. Recycling champions and green officers were established at the site to ensure the effective management of the new system. The teams also consult with staff on any new ideas to further improve recycling efforts.
In 2006 Pura House commence collection of commingled recyclables (cans, bottles cartons etc) and estimates that 5-10 tonnes of materials are being diverted from landfill to recycling.
Following the success of the Green Office Program in Pura House and Bentley, National Foods is now encouraging adoption of the program at each site with new ideas being investigated.
2L HDPE Milk Bottle industry benchmark
The 2L milk bottle since introduction in early 1990’s has undergone a number of light weighting exercises. Total weight of the bottle has been decreased by approximately 10% and is regarded as the lightest liquid packaging on the Australian market.
The weight of a 2L bottle, complete with cap is 44.8g, which is 40% lighter than many alternative liquid packaging types and 25% lighter than equivalent 2L of milk carton packaging.
HDPE milk bottle packaging is fully recyclable throughout all Australian kerbside collection systems. In addition to this off-cuts during bottle manufacture are reground and returned to feedstock stream and damaged bottles are recycled to plastic re-processors.
1kg Yoplait Yogurt Tub
The 1kg tub was generated and custom designed by the National Foods Technology and Innovation team in conjunction with key suppliers. The packaging uses world leading technology that gives National Foods a unique positioning in the Australian dairy case.
Sturdy and reusable, like an ice cream container, it also comes with a handy dispensing aid tamper evident lid.
It is the ability to re-use the container that delivers the best outcome for the environment. Both the base and the lid a made of the same (polypropylene) materials which is an improvement on previous multi component packaging consisting of polsytrene, foil and PVC overlid. As well as being re-usable the new polypropylene package is more widely collected by council kerbside recycling systems.
NB. The new Yoplait container uses similar technology to the universal kitchen favourite Tupperware. So when you re-use the container you can also re-heat in the microwave (just remember to lift the lid!).
Salisbury Compactor Recycling Project
In 2006 Salisbury worked to develop a product and packaging recovery system for packaged product waste. The shredder system was purpose built to improve safety and hygiene and includes conveyors, in-built CIP and removable solid screens.
Previously packaged product was crushed in an old wool baler. The unit was difficult to clean and was a significant manual handling risk.
Efficiency of reclaim handling has improved significantly. What once took 2 hours to sort and compact now takes less than 15 mins. The capacity to handle waste has easily doubled giving greater ability to sort waste for maximum recycling recovery. The new system is interlocked and guarded. The material is now shredded so is more compact for transport.
The site is working towards reducing the number and frequency of landfill bin pick ups. In 2007 the site completed a full audit of sources of waste by packaging type and location with the aim to identify opportunities to reduce and improve segregation.