The Australasian Waste & Recycling Expo (AWRE) is on this week in Sydney, offering a two-day live experience promoting ideas and opportunities for Australia's waste and recycling community. PKN stopped by.
At a vital time in the industry, AWRE has created a platform for businesses to forge new connections and find solutions and strategies to build a more stable, sustainable and profitable economy.
Held from 24-25 August, the expo features back-to-back seminar sessions, including the Resource Recovery Summit, Resource Recovery Reception and seminars in two theatres.
AIP shows strong support
The Australian Institute of Packaging was integrally involved in delivering educational content at the show. PKN stopped by the AIP stand and spoke to Nerida Kelton, executive director.
"The AIP is so happy to be back at an 'in real life' trade show, where we have had the opportunity to not only catch up with members after such a long time, but also to meet many new people from the waste and recycling industry," Kelton said.
"The Institute also presented three seminar sessions during the two-day show and ran the Flexible Packaging Training course. We are extremely pleased to have been a part of such an important industry event."
Perfect Automation shows mono-material pouches
Packaging distributor Perfect Automation, agent for Vietnam-based certified mono recyclable films distributor, Thanh Phu was exhibiting at the Australasian Waste & Recycling Expo.
Combined with Perfect Automation's range of packaging machines and sotutions and 45 years of ‘hands on’ experience in the packaging industry, Thanh Phu’s recyclable packaging offer a clear pathway to sustainable packaging with its award-winning recyclable pouch solutions.
In addition to being fully recyclable pouches, with the use of Veloflex technology these pouches can also be made with up to 30 per cent recycled content. The company says this is "achiveing a true circular economy while remaining cost effective for packaging manufacturers".
On stand was a selection of pet food and other pouches for dry products, to demonstrate the benefits of the packs and the capabilities of the Leepack rotary pouch machines supplied by Perfect Automation, which delivers custom installations for a range of machinery that it sources from global market leaders.
PKN spoke to John Whitfield, national sales manager, Perfect Automation, who said that the company had not focused on pouch supply before. "Because there's so many people selling pouches from China and all over the place, we've kept away from trying to sell pouches, but then we found Thanh Phu, and they're doing the fully recyclable mono material, and there's not many people that can offer that."
He said he sees a real opportunity for mono material pouches. "Everyone who is using a pouch, if they want to comply with the REDcycle program,and moving forward with the APCO targets, will need to move to a mono material and there's not many people that can do it from bringing the resin in to extruding, printing and producing pouches.”
PAC Trading promotes Greenmark range
Compostable food packaging supplier PAC Trading displayed the Greenmark range of food service and other packaging products made from natural materials to allow for organic disposal.
Peter Rosemond, national sales manager, said, "Our innovative Greenmark tableware live is a more sustainable option – one that uses annually renewable plant fibres and a more environmentally friendly manufacturing process."
PAC trading sources products around the world made from sugarcane bagasse, bamboo, paper, wood, areca palm leaves and cornstarch-based material.
Rosemond said Greenmark’s extensive range of compostable packaging products are made to be tailored to all unique foodservice needs, from local corner cafés to retail giants.
The company also acts as facilitator to help sustainably process its products post-consumption, and collaborates with non-profit organisations, councils and waste facilities.
Reuniting with colleagues
Trade shows are the optimal industry networking event, and PKN bumped into numerous industry friends and colleagues as we made our way around the show floor. One of these was Zaidee Jackson, national business development manager, Sustainable Packaging, at Ball & Doggett.
Jackson attended the Resource Recovery Summit "Getting to 80%" conference at AWRE, which she said provided invaluable access to knowledge and expertise in the field.
