Brownes Dairy to make yoghurt tubs from ocean-bound plastic as part of environmental packaging push

One of the State’s biggest dairy processors has rolled out more environmentally friendly packaging for one of its major products.

Brownes Dairy has launched new yoghurt tubs made from recycled plastic, which are being rolled out by the company over the next few weeks.

The plastic used in the tubs is ocean-bound plastic, which the company describes as plastic found within 50km of the coastline.

Under the change, about 2.7 million virgin plastic tubs will no longer be produced every year.

Chief executive Natalie Sarich-Dayton said the company was showing its commitment to sustainability through its actions.

“We were first to introduce Australia’s most sustainable milk cartons and we wanted to push the envelope again by using recyclable ocean-bound plastic in our yoghurt tubs,” she said.

The processor has partnered with companies certified by non-government organisation Zero Plastic Oceans as part of the move to the new containers.

Ms Sarich-Dayton noted the benefits of the partnership.

“Working with certified partners not only prevents plastic waste from ending up in the ocean, it also creates employment opportunities for underprivileged coastal communities,” she said.

Brownes’ new containers will also be fully recyclable as part of normal kerbside waste collections.

The company is also taking steps to move its 750ml Chill flavoured milk bottles to 100 per cent recycled plastic.

The World Economic Forum and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation predict there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish by weight by 2050.

Brownes’ move comes after the company introduced unbleached milk cartons produced using renewable energy in 2019.