Australia’s major publications have created a partnership with REDcycle ahead of Global Recycling Day, further elevating the industry’s green credentials.
Industry organisation ThinkNewsBrands has forged the partnership on behalf of News Corp Australia, Nine, Seven West Media and Are Media in time for Global Recycling Day on March 18.
Through establishing a partnership with REDcycle, Australia’s favourite newspapers and magazines have fully embraced the circular economy.
Figures show 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. All elements of the printed product will now get a second life through the partnership with REDcycle, with plastic sleeves and wrap amongst the products that will be collected through REDcycle bins.
The RED group is a national organisation that developed and implemented the REDcycle program, a recovery initiative for post-consumer soft plastic. Coles, Woolworths and some of Australia’s best-known brands such as Arnotts, Happyway, Hello Fresh and Australia Post are a part of it.
The initiative allows Australian brands to work together to keep plastic bags and soft plastic packaging out of landfill.
REDcycle CEO Elizabeth Kasell said that the new initiative will make it easy to drop off plastic wrap for recycling in REDcycle bins, that will be situated in Coles and Woolworths stores.
“We can all do something to help by recycling our plastics and keeping them out of our rivers, oceans and landfills.” 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.”
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.
ThinkNewsBrands Environment Director Dr 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.”
“We’re thrilled to partner with REDcycle and to help spread the word through our channels with news brands alone reaching 97 per cent of Aussie adults.”
In a bid to thank Australians for their recycling efforts to date and encourage them to participate further in the REDcycle initiative, a national advertising campaign will roll out this week across well-known Australian newspapers and magazines.