Australian bread manufacturer Tip Top Bakeries has introduced new bread bags that are made with 30% recycled plastic using the ISCC mass balance approach. The industry-leading move is a first for the Australian sliced packaged bread aisle and will eventually remove 160 tonnes of virgin plastic by December 2025.
Director of Sales & ESG Lead at Tip Top Australia, Graeme Cutler says the initiative marks a significant milestone in the company’s partnership with packaging suppliers to help drive positive change in the industry.
“Tip Top is committed to feeding Australian communities in a more sustainable and responsible way, taking steps towards tackling the issue of plastic waste, while maintaining the freshness and quality of our delicious bread,” he said.
The change builds on Tip Top’s pioneering initiative as the first bread manufacturer in Australia to introduce 100% recycled and recyclable cardboard bread tags in 2020, which removed 140 million pieces of single-use plastic every year from local waste streams.
Innovation through collaboration
Tip Top has partnered with global packaging leader Amcor to source recycled plastic and reduce its use of virgin plastic for production of the new bread bags through mass balance.
Amcor Flexibles Asia Pacific Director of Sustainability Richard Smith says the partnership demonstrates the impact that collaboration across the value chain and innovation can have on driving the circular economy forward in Australia.
“At Amcor, we are dedicated to pioneering advanced packaging solutions that reduce reliance on virgin plastics while maintaining the quality and safety consumers expect,” he said.
Amcor’s production of the new Tip Top bread bags made with 30% recycled plastic is certified by The International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS Scheme. The recycled material is allocated to the new bread bags using the mass balance approach*.
The new bread bags started hitting shelves in September 2024 and have now rolled out across Tip Top The One, Tip Top The One Gluten Free, and Tip Top 9 Grain loaves in all major retailers nationally.