what we’ve achieved
Since 2010, Bulla has proudly been a voluntary member of Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), our 2024 annual report6 scored ‘Leading’. Currently, 80% of Bulla primary retail packaging is recyclable, 15% conditionally recyclable and 5% check locally by standards7.
In 2023 we reached our goal to include the Australasian Recycling Logo (ARL) on all Bulla primary retail packaging.
We are an active participant of the Dairy Australia Sustainable Packaging Working Group. Through the development of the Dairy Australia Packaging Roadmap, this group is actively collaborating to help improve packaging design for circularity, improve collection and recycling systems and expand markets for used packaging.
In FY22, we commenced moving away from problematic plastic, specifically Polystyrene, by transitioning to Paperboard for frozen cup products and Polypropylene and PET for chilled cup products. This has resulted the packaging now being recyclable and has eliminated over 100 tonnes of landfill. We have also implemented a lower gauge plastic film, which reduced the use of single-use plastic from 70 to 46 tonnes annually across our pallet stretch film. We are currently working with our supplies to trial recycled content within our pallet wrap.
In 2022, collaborating closely with our supplier, we identified an opportunity to downgauge our ice cream sticks, by transitioning to a shorter stick we have reduced the amount of wood used by 17.6%, avoiding the consumption of 60 tonnes of wood in 2023.
Sources:
6 APCO annual report
7 In accordance with the Packaging Recyclability Evaluation Portal tool
national plastics recycling scheme
Bulla is proud to be supporting the National Plastics Recycling Scheme (NPRS) – Australia’s first industry-backed scheme to increase soft plastic recycling rates.
Led by the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC), Bulla is one of the Australian brands, retailers and manufacturers aiming to close the loop on soft plastics recycling. The NPRS aims to significantly increase the amount of soft plastic that is recycled, compared to the two per cent of soft plastic that was recycled via previous return to store scheme, REDcycle.
We will continue to support the NPRS and explore innovative alternatives to reduce our use soft plastics.
what’s next
In 2023 Environmental Ministers announced a new packaging regulatory framework that is proposed to be enforced in 2026.
This will inform mandatory packaging design standards and targets ensuring industry is responsible for the packaging placed on market.
Bulla will continue to keep up to speed with the reform and prepare to comply with packaging legislation through initiatives such as improved packaging recyclability, increased integration of food-grade recycled content, lifecycle assessments, packaging policies and continued supply chain engagement.
taking action on climate change
Our goal is to reach a 50% reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions and set an emissions mitigation pathway by 20283.
moving towards zero waste
Bulla is working to achieve zero food waste to landfill in our manufacturing operations by 2030.