Pact Group’s focus on plastic recycling, reuse and sustainable packaging has seen the Group recognised as one of Australia’s most innovative companies for ten consecutive years.

Since 2013, Pact has featured in the Australian Financial Review BOSS Most Innovative Companies list every year for a range of its ground-breaking efforts, including building and operating Australasia’s biggest PET plastic recycling facility, manufacturing noise walls using recycled plastic waste, recycling old and damaged household garbage bins into new ones, introducing reusable plastic crates for supermarkets to replace single use cardboard boxes, and pivoting operations to produce hand sanitiser during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pact CEO Sanjay Dayal said: “It is a remarkable achievement to be recognised as one of Australia’s most innovative companies every year for the last decade and is testament to the course we have set in plastic recycling, reuse and sustainable packaging.

“We have a vision to lead the circular economy and our people are committed to constantly exploring innovative solutions to challenge the status quo and achieve our goal.”

The prestigious annual list, published by The Australian Financial Review and Boss Magazine, is based on a rigorous assessment process managed by Australia’s leading innovation consultancy, Inventium, in conjunction with a panel of industry expert judges.

In 2022, Pact is ranked 7th in the Manufacturing and Consumer Goods Category for building and operating the state-of-the-art Circular Plastics Australia (CPA) PET plastic recycling facility in Albury-Wodonga, which is a joint venture between Pact, Cleanaway Waste Management, Asahi Beverages and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP).

The facility, which was constructed in just 370 days and commenced operations in February 2022, provides a closed loop solution where beverage bottles are used, collected, and recycled into high-quality resin used to make new food and beverage packaging.

Cleanaway collects, sorts and delivers the plastic waste to the Pact-operated facility for recycling. The recycled resin is then used by Asahi and Coca-Cola to manufacture 100% recycled and recyclable beverage bottles, and by Pact to make bottles and food packaging for well-known brands such as Woolworths, Goodman Fielder, Ego, Norco, and Unilever.

“Brand owners and consumers alike are demanding packaging that is recycled and recyclable and we have collaborated with industry partners to create a domestic circular economy and respond to those needs,” Mr Dayal said.

“The world-class PET recycling facility ensures we are taking responsibility for our plastic waste, reducing the need to import virgin plastic resin and minimising harm to the environment for future generations.”

The CPA joint venture is building a second PET recycling facility with similar capacity in Melbourne which is due to be completed in early 2023 and commence operations in the first half.

Last year, Pact was recognised for its innovative plastic noise walls which are made from up to 75% recycled plastic. The noise walls have transformed approximately 570 tonnes of plastic milk bottles, soft plastics and other hard-to-recycle plastic materials into panels spanning 32,000 square metres along the Mordialloc Freeway.

“Pact has a laser-like focus on innovating to develop products and services that are sustainable and contribute to advancing Australia’s circular economy,” Mr Dayal said.