Page 10 - Packaging News magazine May-June 2022

10 NEWS | www.packagingnews.com.au | May-June 2022 Orora to install oxygen-fuelled furnace
ORORA has succeeded in its grant application to support the planned construction of an oxy- gen-fuelled furnace at its glass manufacturing plant in Gawler,
South Australia, receiving $12.5 million from the federal government under the Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI).
Simon Bromell, Orora
Beverage’s group general man- ager, said the company is appreciative of the government’s support for this significant Australian-first project.
“Our plan to introduce oxy- gen-fuelled furnace technology to our site in Gawler, which would be a first for Australia, supports Orora’s ongoing com- mitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Bromell.
“This grant is an important step in achieving that plan, which we intend to progress through to 2024.
“The project would also assist Orora to meet the grow- ing demand from consumers for recycled and sustainable pack- aging, and support our wine industry customers to be com- petitive in their export markets.”
Globally, Orora Group has committed to achieving net zero Scope 1 (direct) and Scope 2 (indi- rect emissions from purchased energy) greenhouse gas emissions across its operations by 2050.
Orora also has an interim goal of a 40 per cent reduction from 2019 levels by 2035, and a target of 60 per cent recycled content for glass bottles by 2025.
The oxygen-fuelled furnace, which would replace existing furnace technology, would con- tribute to this goal together with the construction of a $25 million beneficiation plant at Gawler, which is expected to be commis- sioned in Q4 FY22. ■
Orora’s oxygen-fuelled furnace will be an Australian first for glass manufacturing.
APCO CEO Brooke Donnelly to step down
IN news that has rocked the Australian packaging industry, Brooke Donnelly, CEO of the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), is step- ping down from the position at the end of July.
Donnelly said that after five years in the role, it was time for a new challenge. In the remain- ing three months of her tenure, Donnelly will assist with the transition to a new CEO. Her suc- cessor has not been announced; APCO is in the process of recruit- ing for the role.
Speaking to PKN shortly after the news broke, Donnelly said this was a considered and stra- tegic decision based on what she feels is right for APCO and for her personal growth. She said she has had a "fabulous time" working in the role since 2017, and feels "privileged and hum- bled" to have been in a position to rebuild APCO into an institution well positioned to deliver a circu- lar economy for packaging, and to have been instrumental in proj- ects and programmes that have
made a real and tangible impact. "There is a lot more work to be done, but we have turned the ship, we have shifted the para- digm on how Australians view sustainable packaging. I am confident Australia is firmly on the pathway to achieving the National Packaging Targets and beyond that to achieving a circu-
lar economy for packaging. “We've got this, no matter who sits in the CEO seat, industry and government can deliver on our
sustainable packaging targets.” Donnelly has been at APCO's helm at a time when packaging sustainability has come under intense scrutiny, and has made her mark in steering the organ- isation towards achieving some bold objectives, and impor- tantly, regaining government trust to influence policy on a
national scale.
Over the five-year period,
APCO's membership has grown from 700 to 2200, and its geo- graphical scope has expanded to include regional and global participants.
Under Donnelly’s leadership, APCO has guided the nation in setting the National Packaging Targets as the way forward to achieve circularity in packag- ing and developed consistent reporting across the packaging value chain.
Strong partnerships have been forged with Planet Ark, PREP and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and APCO has developed and launched a regional approach to tackle plastic packaging waste in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands through the ANZPAC Plastics Pact.
Game changing programs have been initiated, which have informed government and
Brooke Donnelly has made her mark as leader of APCO.
APCO members of the chal- lenges ahead, and APCO has collaborated with organisa- tions across the supply chain to develop innovative solutions to Australia’s most pressing sus- tainable packaging challenges.
One of the stand-out achieve- ments has been the engagement of over 750 companies to partici- pate in the Australian Recycling Label, and work together to design packaging that is recy- clable, reusable or compostable.
The APCO team thanked Donnelly in a statement wishing her all the best for the future. ■