Outdoor furniture created from recycled plastic food packaging

Kraft Foods, in partnership with the RED Group and Coles, has donated purpose-built outdoor furniture for Westgate Park using recycled packaging from The Natural Confectionery Company (TNCC) range and a selection of Cadbury Dairy Milk products across its blocks and share packs. 

Kraft has donated a much-needed footbridge, table setting and bench seats to protect the saltmarsh habitat and one of Victoria’s rare saltmarsh plants. The outdoor furniture will also increase accessibility and enjoyment of this urban nature park, nestled in the heart of industrial Melbourne.

The donation marks the first collaborative venture between Kraft, the RED Group and Coles since joining the REDcycle program, an innovative recycling scheme that offers Australians an environmentally sustainable alternative to disposing of their soft plastic food packaging such as confectionery wrappers, bread and cereal bags in landfill. Soft plastic waste is collected from drop-off points at selected Coles stores and is then sent to local manufacturer Replas where it is converted into quality recycled-plastic outdoor furniture and other products for Australian communities.

At the official unveiling of the new equipment at Westgate Park yesterday, Kraft Foods Corporate Affairs Manager Julia Fraser, joined by Parks Victoria Ranger Tim Carver, announced that the donation is a show of Kraft Foods’ commitment to creating a viable sustainable recycling solution for its packaging. 

“As custodians of some of Australia’s most loved brands, we have a commitment to environmental sustainability and are delighted to be donating recycled plastic furniture made from our packaging to such a worthy cause,” said Fraser.

“We hope that the donation to Westgate Park will be enjoyed by the local community and help to educate Australians about how they can play a part in the recycling of everyday products. The donation we have made here today is the first of many items of equipment we plan to build and give away to parks and communities in need throughout the year.”

Carver added: “The area where the footbridge is being installed is prone to flooding. The footbridge creates a new formalised track for visitors and will protect surrounding native flora, particularly a rare saltmarsh plant which is an important food source for native birds. It also creates a corridor allowing small plants to grow.

“We are extremely grateful for the generous donation from Kraft. The outdoor furniture which they have provided will not only improve access to and enjoyment of the park generally but also help protect its biodiversity and natural habitat.”

The Director of Development at RED Group, Elizabeth Kasell, said: “We are delighted that Kraft Foods are supporting the REDcycle program and demonstrating their commitment to a sustainable outcome for their packaging. Since the program launched in September 2011, we have successfully diverted over 9.5 million units or 37 tonnes of shopping bags and food packaging from landfill, providing enough materials to create almost 1200 park benches. Kraft Foods packaging represents a significant stream in the recovered material, with an estimated 155,000 units (based on average weight of 2 g per unit), which we hope will more than double by the end of the year.”

The REDcycle program is a voluntary, industry-led initiative and a true product stewardship model where everyone involved in the life cycle of a product from manufacturers, distributors and consumers can play a role in a more sustainable end-of-life solution. Australians can do their bit by returning soft plastic bags and packaging to REDcycle bins at more than 370 Coles supermarkets in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.

Due to the success of the initiative, Coles is planning to expand the number of drop-off locations to a national level. Cadbury Dairy Milk and TNCC wrappers can also be sent directly to RED Group for recycling from anywhere in Australia and, in return, consumers will receive a special re-usable ‘green’ bag. 

The Kraft Foods donation to Westgate Park was made possible through Conservation Volunteers Australia, their volunteers and staff from Replas who donated their time and expertise to assemble and install the equipment.