Organic apple farm R&R Smith is ditching plastic and switching to home-compostable bags to package its produce. The move comes in response to consumer demand and the country’s incoming phase-out of single-use plastic packaging by 2025 to reduce plastic waste.
A recent survey found that 80 per cent of Australian adults believe using compostable packaging is a more effective solution to the plastic waste problem than it is to recycle plastic.
With this change, the company’s entire produce packs – including packaging and any apple remains – can be fully decomposed in any home compost or sent to an industrial compost facility bin, making its products fully circular.
“We know that our customers want sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic, and we are extremely proud to introduce the first fully home compostable package for our pre-packaged fruit,” said Andrew Smith, MD of R&R Smith.
Compostable packaging supplier TIPA will be providing the brand’s home compostable produce bags. According to R&R Smith, it chose TIPA for its high regulatory certifications to ensure transparency, authenticity, quality, and food safety from orchard to consumer.
Unlike conventional plastic, TIPA’s films and laminates are certified compostable, leaving no waste behind.
“Interest in compostable packaging is booming, and this has been driven by positive environmental legislation and consumer demand for plastic alternatives,” said Chen Kats, CRO at TIPA. “ TIPA’s technology is prepared to meet this demand, and we are ready to support the Australian market transition to compostable packaging.”
R&R Smith is one of Australia’s first organic apple farms. Established in 1988, it received certification for its organic apple orchard 10 years later. Its apples are certified through the National Association of Sustainable Agriculture Australia.
