The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) has welcomed Metcash and 7-Eleven as the latest participants in the National Plastics Recycling Scheme (NPRS). This industry-driven initiative marks a significant step towards recycling soft plastics, which are notoriously difficult to process and often end up in landfills. The NPRS aims to convert these soft plastics into food-grade packaging and other valuable materials, presenting a groundbreaking solution to a longstanding environmental challenge.
“We’re delighted to see Metcash and 7-Eleven joining this exciting industry initiative,” said CEO Tanya Barden. “Collaboration with all parts of the packaging and recycling supply chain is central to advancing a sustainable circular economy for soft plastics in Australia.”
By joining forces with over 40 leading brands, including Nestle, Unilever, and Fonterra, Metcash and 7-Eleven are pioneering retail support for a sustainable circular economy. The NPRS focuses on collecting household soft plastics through various channels, including kerbside collection, to address the recycling chain’s current shortcomings.
“But supermarkets and food and grocery suppliers cannot do this alone,” added Barden. “This is bigger than any single industry, so we need everybody on board.”
In this, the AFGC urged industries reliant on soft plastics, such as fashion and general merchandise, to contribute to this collaborative effort and help establish the necessary processing infrastructure.
7-Eleven ramps up sustainability efforts
“This is bigger than any single industry, so we need everybody on board.”
This is not the first move by convenience chain 7-Eleven to enhance sustainability in its product range and operations. Last year, the company announced an ongoing partnership with The Salvation Army Australia in an effort to reduce food waste.
In 2021, this saw approximately $1.26 million donated from warehouse excess, event stock and coffee connection locations. The following year, 7-Eleven expanded its food rescue initiatives to the local level, redirecting stock from individual stores to frontline Salvation Army Corps. This resulted in drinks, milk, treats, meals and bakery items from 16 pilot stores being donated to Salvation Army Corps across Melbourne, Townsville, Gympie and more.
Major Brendan Nottle, The Salvation Army Project 614 Commanding Officer and 7-Eleven Australia CEO and Managing Director celebrated the food rescue milestone and the extension of the Store to Corps program in 2024 at an event in Melbourne.
According to Major Nottle, “in-kind donations help frontline Salvation Army services such as Project 614 support the growing number of people in need due to the increases in the cost of living.
“7-Eleven’s Store to Corps food donations have been providing approximately two lunch services and four dinner services a month to our clients at Project 614 for a number of months now,” said Major Brendan Nottle, The Salvation Army Project 614 commanding officer and CEO and managing director of 7-Eleven Australia . “Across Salvation Army locations nationally, 7-Eleven has donated more than 4,000 individual meals since May this year.”
