Sealed with sustainability
Australia’s posties can now deliver your parcel in a satchel made of plastic reclaimed from the sea.
Australia Post has launched a new range of mailing satchels created from plastic that was en route to the ocean.
The POLLAST!C satchel range is made of certified potential Ocean Bound Plastic (OBP) and was launched in partnership with sustainable packaging company Better Packaging Co.
OBP is defined as plastic waste collected within 50 kilometres of a coastline in regions lacking formal waste management systems.
The OBP plastic used in the POLLAST!C satchels was collected from coastal communities in Southeast Asia and is recycled and transformed into mailers, reducing the need for virgin plastics.
Better Packaging Co focuses on monsoon-prone equatorial areas with heavily polluted river systems sometimes referred to as 'plastic superhighways'.
Each satchel contains at least 90% recycled OBP, well over the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation's (APCO) 2025 target of 50% recycled content.
"Small changes in packaging can lead to big impacts in reducing plastic waste"
"Providing our customers with access to POLLAST!C is part of Australia Post’s efforts to deliver a more sustainable future," Australia Post’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Richard Pittard, said.
"Small changes in packaging can lead to big impacts in reducing plastic waste."
Better Packaging Co’s The POLLAST!C Project, launched in 2021, also features garment bags and pallet wrap. Rebecca Percasky, co-founder of Better Packaging Co said that mailing satchels are an ideal application for OBP as they do not need to be food grade or perfectly clear.
"This is an exciting step toward a more circular economy from one of Australia’s largest companies," she said. "With so many mailers shipped nationwide each year, this initiative makes a significant impact."
POLLAST!C satchels are available in three sizes in post offices nationwide and on Australia Post's online store.
Ocean Bound Plastic (OBP) is plastic waste collected within 50 kilometers of a coastline, usually in areas without proper waste management. Better Packaging Co focuses on monsoon-prone regions near the equator. POLLAST!C satchels are made with at least 90% recycled OBP and all recycled material inputs are traceable under two certifications: Global Recycled Standard and Ocean Bound Plastic Certification.
