Tapex recognised by plastics industry for environmental leadership

At the PlastixANZ Plastic Industry Awards in Melbourne on 12 September, Tapex was recognised by the industry for its environmental leadership with the Plasback program, winning the Steinert 2012 Environment Achievement Award.

Plasback is a product stewardship scheme initiated by Tapex and its New Zealand subsidiary Agpac. The Plasback concept and brand were created as a separate entity to Tapex so all of industry and government could participate in the program.

Tapex created the Plasback program for the following purposes:

• To create a more sustainable business model for Tapex;
• To create a sustainable model for the industry;
• To provide a low-cost national plastics recycling solution for farmers;
• To cooperate with government to grow an industry-based solution;
• To drive behavioural change towards sustainable practice in rural communities.

The most common methods of disposal of farm plastics currently are landfill, burning or accumulation on farms. Landfilling results in the loss of a resource and uses expensive landfill space. Burning is illegal, creates dioxins, and can damage human health and the environment. Accumulation presents a littering issue, a stock hazard, and can result in plastic contaminating waterways during flood or high wind events.

The Plasback product stewardship scheme provides Australian and New Zealand farmers with a simple and cost-effective method to recycle high-volume plastics such silage wrap and baling twine. After recycling, much of this plastic is made back into products for Tapex, such as Tuffboard (a plywood replacement) and Tuffdeck (a non-slip modular grate), completing the loop.

For more information about the program and its products, go to www.plasback.com.au or www.plasback.co.nz.