In the bag: The story behind Woolworths locally made paper recyclable shopping bags, with Tom Lunn of Detpak - a podcast by PKN Editor

In this episode, Lindy Hughson, Managing Editor & Publisher of PKN Packaging News and Tom Lunn, Detpak's General Manager of Marketing and Innovation, discuss Woolworths' recyclable paper bags and Detpak's efforts to make them possible.

The episode starts with a discussion on the inspiration for this initiative and Woolworths' objectives for switching from single-use plastic to fibre-based bags. The material development and the requirements the bags must meet are reviewed along with the newly developed machinery used to produce them in Australia.

Tom confirms that the fibre material for the bags is, itself, recycled from corrugated shipper packaging received by Woolworths, further improving the benefits through a reduction in waste and environmental impact. The discussion then moves on to the lessons learned from an initial trial in South Australia and how they are being applied to the national roll-out schedule.

We then move on to reviewing the larger market trends on recycling and fibre packaging, the impacts of COVID on the project and Detpak’s top trends in packaging. The episode wraps up with Tom's views on the packaging industry moving towards the circular economy and the important issues that must be addressed to achieve this goal.

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The PKN Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of PKN Packaging News, owned and published by Yaffa Media.

The views of the people featured on this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of PKN Packaging News, Yaffa Media, or the guest’s employer. The contents are copyright by Yaffa Media.

If you wish to use any of this podcast’s audio, please contact PKN Packaging News via their website www.packagingnews.com.au or send an email to editor@packagingnews.com.au.

MC: Grant McHerron

Host: Lindy Hughson

Producer: Steve Visscher

PKN Packaging News - © 2021