Australian publishers forge partnership with REDcycle, launch advertising campaign

Ahead of Global Recycling Day on March 18, Australia’s major publishers have created a partnership with REDcycle further elevating the industry’s green credentials.

Australia’s favourite newspapers and magazines have fully embraced the circular economy by establishing a partnership with REDcycle.

On behalf of News Corp Australia, Nine, Seven West Media and Are Media, industry organisation ThinkNewsBrands has forged the partnership with REDcycle in time for Global Recycling Day on March 18.

It follows figures which show Australia’s publishing industry is among the best in the world when it comes to recycling printed newspapers with two-thirds of all newspapers recycled*. Now, thanks to REDcycle, all elements of the printed product will get a second life with plastic sleeves and wrap being collected through REDcycle bins.

REDcycle is part of the RED Group, a national organisation that developed and implemented the REDcycle Program, a recovery initiative for post-consumer soft plastic. The initiative sees Coles, Woolworths and some of Australia’s best-known brands working together to keep plastic bags and soft plastic packaging out of landfill.

The partnership between REDcycle and ThinkNewsBrands will see the plastic wrap from magazines and newspapers turned into furniture for parks and schools, garden beds, exercise equipment, shopping trolleys and an additive to improve the performance of our roads.

REDcycle CEO Elizabeth Kasell said: “We can all do something to help by recycling our plastics and keeping them out of our rivers, oceans and landfills. It’s easy to drop off plastic wrap for recycling at REDcycle bins in Coles or Woolworths stores.

“Now, with Australia’s major newspaper and magazine publishers on board, we can save even more energy, resources and landfill space as well as potentially reducing litter.”

To thank Australians for their recycling efforts to date and encourage further participation in the REDcycle program, a national advertising campaign rolls out this week across newspapers and magazines.

Recycling newspaper and magazine plastic wrap is a small step that will make a big difference. Australia is already a world leader in recycling newspapers, and we can easily do more to recycle our plastics. The next step is encouraging Australians to buy products made from recycled soft plastics, supporting a true circular economy.

Tony Wilkins

ThinkNewsBrands Environment Director

“We’re thrilled to partner with REDcycle and to help spread the word through our channels with news brands alone reaching 97 per cent of Aussie adults**.”

* Source: Newsprint recovery figures for 2020, prepared by Industry Edge for ThinkNewsBrands.
** Source: Roy Morgan news readership for the 12 months to December 2021.

Media Enquiries
Brooke Hemphill
bhemphill@premiumcontentalliance.com.au
0419 351 445

Rebecca Gleghorn
Rebecca@redgroup.net.au

Recycling Enquiries
Dr Tony Wilkins
awilkins@thinknewsbrands.com.au
0413 080 789