Some of Australia’s major publishers have created a partnership with REDcycle, further elevating the industry’s green credentials.
On behalf of News Corp Australia, Nine, Seven West Media and Are Media, industry organisation ThinkNewsBrands forged the partnership with REDcycle to tie in with Global Recycling Day on March 18.
The partnership follows figures from a study by ThinkNewsBrands which found that Australia’s publishing industry is among the best in the world when it comes to recycling printed newspapers with two-thirds of all newspapers recycled.
Now, by partnering with REDcycle, all elements of the printed product will get a second life with plastic sleeves and wrap being collected through REDcycle bins.
ThinkNewsBrands environment director Tony Wilkins said, “Recycling newspaper and magazine plastic wrap is a small step that will make a big difference. Australia is already a world leader in recycling newspapers, and we can easily do more to recycle our plastics. The next step is encouraging Australians to buy products made from recycled soft plastics, supporting a true circular economy”.
REDcycle is part of the RED Group, a national organisation that developed and implemented the REDcycle Program, a recovery initiative for post-consumer soft plastic. The initiative sees Coles, Woolworths and some of Australia’s best-known brands working together to keep plastic bags and soft plastic packaging out of landfill.
The partnership between REDcycle and ThinkNewsBrands will see the plastic wrap from magazines and newspapers turned into furniture for parks and schools, garden beds, exercise equipment, shopping trolleys and an additive to improve the performance of our roads.
REDcycle CEO Elizabeth Kasell said some of Australia’s favourite newspapers and magazines have fully embraced the circular economy by establishing this partnership.
“We can all do something to help by recycling our plastics and keeping them out of our rivers, oceans and landfills. It’s easy to drop off plastic wrap for recycling at REDcycle bins in Coles or Woolworths stores,” she said.
“Now, with Australia’s major newspaper and magazine publishers on board, we can save even more energy, resources and landfill space as well as potentially reducing litter.”
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