Page 41 - Packaging News magazine November-December 2022

Your future recycling solution.
Advanced recycling, coming soon for the production of polypropylene.
We’re Australia’s only manufacturer of polypropylene, a material used to produce diverse plastic products such as flexible packaging films and rigid packaging consumer products.
Viva Energy Polymers, your local solution.
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CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Above: High tech facility to boost glass circularity.
Right: Ellie King, beneficiation plant manager, and Kerry Tate, supply director, Orora.
Lowe told PKN that the company saw plenty of opportunity for growth in the domestic glass business, saying, “Australia is still a net importer of glass bottles, which could be manufactured here, and would save on emissions in transport.”
Lowe also said the beginnings of rapprochement in Australia’s trading relationship with China was good to see, but said Orora was not counting on a resumption of the wine trade, for which the company was a major glass bottle supplier. Since the wine tariffs came into play, which ended most of Australia’s wine exports to China, Orora has pivoted into new business areas, and has replaced all the lost business. Lowe said, “Any easing of restrictions would be good news, and we would be ready to supply winemakers, but we will have to wait and see.”
A transition away from plastic bottles has not yet begun, with Lowe saying if it does happen it will more likely be to alu- minium cans rather than glass bottles. The company is investing some $200m in can production capacity over the next three to four years. ■
$8m
in state and commonwealth government funding for the new plant
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