Australian food packaging supplier Caspak has been awarded the ‘Towards Net Zero’ accolade at the Kingston Sustainable Business Awards, recognising its innovative packaging solutions and commitment to reducing carbon emissions.
Originally founded in Auckland in 1990, Caspak started operations in Australia in 1997 under the leadership of managing director Bryce Hickmott, also the current owner of the business. The company employs 25 people and operates from a purpose-built facility in Braeside, Melbourne, located in the Kingston Council district.
Caspak's modern facility is powered by a 200-kilowatt solar panel system with 500 panels, supporting its operations and fleet of electric forklifts and vehicles. This commitment to energy neutrality reflects Caspak’s broader goal of reducing its carbon footprint and advancing internal sustainability. It was this commitment, coupled with its focus on delivering sustainable packaging solutions to Australia’s food industry, that saw the company win the award.
Speaking to PKN, Hickmott expressed his pride on receiving the award: “This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team. It reinforces our commitment to pushing the boundaries of sustainability in packaging and motivates us to continue innovating and setting an example in our industry. Thank you to Kingston Council for this incredible recognition, and I commend them on their very progressive approach in this area.”
Commenting on driving the sustainability strategy in the company, Hickmott said, “I’m a firm believer in ‘If we can, then we should’ – it’s a moral ethos that we operate by.”
Caspak imports 95 per cent of the packaging materials and products it supplies, working with brand owners to ensure the materials are fit for purpose. The company places a strong emphasis on R&D, testing 60 to 70 samples weekly in its in-house lab. The quality assurance team conducts elongation, resistance, and OTR (oxygen transmission rate) tests, among others, to ensure packaging quality meets required safety standards, as well as reporting and compliance protocols.
Caspak believes its packaging solutions play a crucial role in reducing food waste and minimising environmental impact. Its product range includes bamboo trays, which are home compostable and have recently been approved by the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) for domestic paper recycling; post-consumer recycled (PCR) PET film rolls with 60-80 per cent recycled content; and recycle ready mono-material pouches.
The company says these solutions align with the 2025 National Packaging Targets aimed at reducing plastic waste and increasing recycling rates.
Caspak’s commitment to sustainability is further reinforced by its partnership with the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP). Through AIP’s training programs, Caspak ensures its team is knowledgeable about the role of packaging in reducing food waste and promoting sustainability.
Hickmott says that Caspak primarily works with small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and proprietary companies and maintains close relationships with progressive suppliers.
“We aim to keep ahead of the trends, developing sustainable packaging solutions in anticipation of growing demand. A case in point is our bamboo packaging, which has been in development for the past four years,” Hickmott said.
Looking to the future, Hickmott says Caspak would like to remain a “sustainability pin-up for the local area” and is committed to helping brand owners achieve the 2025 Targets, and to supplying packaging materials that will help them comply with the anticipated government regulations, including mandated recycled content.
