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Beverage giant Lion has created a recycled bar at the Melbourne Cup Carnival to launch its Quincy sparkling alcoholic seltzer.

Made of 98 per cent recycled plastic, and featuring furniture created from post-industrial and post-consumer plastic such as car bumpers and plastic bags, the Round II bar is an Australian first and will be used at many of the company’s key sponsorship events, says Libby Davidson, head of sustainability at Lion.

“The impact of single-use plastics on the environment is a key concern at Lion so we are always looking for new, innovative ways to repurpose this resource and promote the circular economy.

“The concept was developed by a group of our own people from different teams across the business during a lunchtime sustainability hackathon. Not only does this reinforce the power of diversity, it’s also a great example of what a company can achieve if you empower your people to share ideas and really make a difference beyond the bottom line,” she said.

The initiative is part of a celebration of Lion’s partnership with soft plastic recycling organisation REDcycle and its manufacturer Replas, announced in September. REDcycle collects and reuses soft plastics that cannot be collected at kerbside, and Replas turns it into a range of recycled plastic products such as street signage and park furniture.

Food & Drink Business

One of Australia’s largest dairy processors, Lactalis Australia, plans to phase out manufacturing at its Longwarry dairy factory, before shutting down the site in the first half of 2027.

Chocolate and confectionery company, Yowie Group, has posted a US$0.9 million (AU$1.3 million) first-half profit, reversing a US$4.66 million (AU$6.7 million) loss a year earlier.

Kim Berry brings you the highlights, trends, and innovations on show as foodpro 2026 comes to an end. See you all on the show floor in 2029. Sponsored by Bürkert Australia.