Sanitarium Health Food Company is educating Australians how to recycle 100% of Weet-Bix packaging.
From this month, Weet-Bix boxes will include the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL), alerting consumers to the fact that 100% of the packaging can be easily recycled.
“It just takes three simple steps,” says the company. “Eat the Bix, recycle the box and REDcycle the bag.”
Sanitarium Health Food Company Executive General Manager Todd Saunders says displaying the ARL on Weet-Bix boxes is an important step in the company’s sustainable packaging efforts, with a 2021 Consumer Insights Report finding the ARL doubled the likelihood of consumers recycling soft plastic.
“If every Weet-Bix consumer recycled the inner, plastic liner through a REDcycle bin, 200 tonnes of plastic would be diverted from landfill every year,” he says.
“We want every Aussie kid, young and old, to know that Weet-Bix packaging is 100% recyclable and understand how to do it.
“We know 60% of customers are looking on pack for information about how to recycle correctly. The launch of the ARL on the iconic Weet-Bix box provides an exciting opportunity to raise awareness and improve recycling habit.”
Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) CEO Brooke Donnelly says it’s great to see the ARL on such an iconic brand with the ability to reach millions of consumers.
“This will help give many more Australians the information they need to make better recycling decisions and help them support a sustainable future,” she says.
“Having Weet-Bix as part of the ARL community will also inspire other manufacturers to join the growing number of members helping Australians to recycle more and correctly.
“The outcomes from this, and other industry-led initiatives aimed at reducing plastic and other materials from landfill, will help us to achieve the 2025 National Packaging Targets.”
The ARL will appear on Weet-Bix boxes from this month and Sanitarium Peanut Butter and Marmite spreads in the following months.
Sanitarium will support its ARL roll-out with a social media campaign and information on the Sanitarium website that includes practical tips and advice on responsible packaging disposal and food waste reduction.