Orora

Bold steps towards a circular economy in South Australia

Orora, South Australia’s largest container glass manufacturer, has implemented a comprehensive strategy to enhance recycling and promote a circular economy. This included investing $25 million in a state-of-the-art glass beneficiation facility at its Gawler site, modifying production processes to incorporate higher levels of recycled glass, and collaborating with various stakeholders to collect and recycle glass. The initiative highlights how investment, innovation, and broad collaboration can enhance recycling and serve as a scalable model for other regions. 

In just four years, Orora went from processing 0% to 100% of all Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) redeemed glass collected in South Australia. By introducing advanced colour-sorting technology, Orora streamlined collection depot operations and boosted transport efficiency. Collaborating with charities, businesses, and Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), it significantly increased recycled content in products.

The ability to supply mixed glass to Orora has improved the transport efficiency for both metropolitan and regional South Australian CDS depots. In addition, Orora has expanded its footprint and is receiving glass from other states and territories around Australia.

As a consequence of this work, Orora has significantly increased the external post-consumer recycled content in its products. Enhanced collaboration with customers and suppliers has also improved the efficiency of glass recycling.

Who was involved: 

The initiative involved multiple stakeholders, including: 

• Orora's internal teams and management.
• Small and large businesses participating in the CDS.
• Charities and community groups collecting CDS glass.
• Customers providing waste glass from operations and product destruction.
• MRFs supplying acceptable quality glass.
• Suppliers of other glass formats, such as plate glass.

Emissions reduction or climate adaptation benefits: 

• Increased use of recycled glass in manufacturing reduces the need for raw materials, thereby lowering carbon emissions associated with glass production.
• The beneficiation plant's advanced technology contributes to more efficient recycling processes, further reducing the environmental footprint.
• For every 10% increase in recycled content, on average emissions are reduced by 5% and energy consumption by 3% for the glass recycling process. 

Lessons learned: 

• Investing in advanced technology can significantly enhance recycling capabilities and simplify processes for stakeholders.
• Collaboration with a wide range of partners, including businesses, charities, and MRFs, is crucial for a successful recycling program.
• Continuous innovation in production processes is essential to increase the use of recycled materials. 

Potential for scaling: 

• Orora's model can be replicated in MRFs to improve quality of glass waste processing to enable higher end uses and promote circular economy practices.
• Expanding partnerships with more stakeholders can further increase the volume of recycled materials and enhance sustainability efforts. 

Orora's commitment to sustainability and innovation sets a benchmark for the industry, showcasing the potential for significant environmental benefits through dedicated recycling initiatives. 

Please note that the information provided has been submitted by the organisation and has not been independently verified.