Australia’s oldest dairy, Brownes, says it will use yoghurt tubs made from ocean bound plastic, and transition the CHILL 750ml flavoured milk range to 100 per cent recycled plastic.
By switching to ocean bound plastic – described as plastic that’s found within 50 kilometres of Australia’s coastline - about 2.7 million virgin plastic yogurt tubs per year will no longer be created. The tubs will also be fully recyclable by kerbside waste management operators.
Brownes Dairy CEO Natalie Sarich-Dayton said the initiative was an important step in preventing ocean waste, with projections that by 2050 the world’s oceans will carry more plastic than fish (by weight).
“Brownes Dairy is showing our commitment to sustainability through action. We were first to introduce Australia’s most sustainable milk cartons and we wanted to push the envelope again by using recyclable ocean bound plastic in our yoghurt tubs,” said Sarich-Dayton.
Brownes has partnered with companies including Heng Hiap Industries and PakPot, which are certified by Zero Plastic Oceans, an NGO dedicated to addressing plastic pollution.
“Working with certified partners not only prevents plastic waste from ending up in the ocean, it also creates employment opportunities for underprivileged coastal communities,” said Sarich-Dayton.
Studies suggest 90 per cent of Australian consumers are concerned about sustainability with all age segments having the view that businesses and brands should be most responsible for the impact on the environment.
“Brownes Dairy wants to ensure that the next generation of Australian families not only get to enjoy the goodness and freshness of our products, but they can do so knowing we use the most sustainable yoghurt tubs available,” said Sarich-Dayton.
As part of its sustainability focus, Brownes has also partnered with Trillion Trees, an environmental replenishment not-for-profit organisation, to contribute to the Trillion Trees Challenge. The organisation has been active since 1979 in Western Australia and has planted close to 15 million native trees.
Since 2016, Brownes has also been an active signatory of the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO).
