Event Recap • June 2026
What We Heard at Sustainability Business Live: The Commercial Case Is the Hard Part
This June, thinkpac exhibited at the first-ever Sustainability Business Live in Melbourne. There, we showcased our ReCree8® pallet wrap and printed garbage bags. Notably, our pallet wrap was a finalist in two categories at this year’s Packaging Innovation and Design Awards.
Since it was the show’s first year, it drew a diverse crowd of professionals. For instance, attendees included experts from both private and public sectors. Specifically, we spoke with logistics operators, food manufacturers, government officials, and circular economy consultants.
Quick Takeaways for Readers:
- The Real Challenge: The main barrier to adopting sustainable packaging isn’t awareness—it’s building a viable commercial business case for procurement teams.
- Cost & Supply Matter Most: Buyers prioritize cost parity, supply chain reliability, and Scope 3 reporting benefits over simple eco-claims.
- The Solution: thinkpac launched the free ReCree8® Impact Calculator to help teams instantly quantify the commercial and environmental impact of switching to PCR packaging.
What we expected to hear vs. what we actually heard
Initially, we expected most conversations to focus purely on recycled content. People often ask about certification, resin quality, or performance against virgin plastics. Naturally, those topics came up. However, they were not the main challenge.
Instead, the recurring theme was quite different. Most sustainability experts already understood the benefits of recycled plastic. Yet, they consistently lacked the tools to build a strong business case. Ultimately, they needed proof to win over their purchasing teams. This is especially true when cost, supply reliability, or Scope 3 reporting are involved.
“In practice, many of our conversations weren’t sustainability pitches at all. Instead, they were strictly commercial. Buyers asked about the actual cost of switching and how supply chains work. Furthermore, they wanted to know the reporting benefits and how to get past procurement.”
Why this matters for recycled packaging
This feedback corrects a very common assumption. Many believe the main barrier to green packaging is a lack of awareness. However, for the professionals we met, the real barrier is internal. They simply struggle to build a business case that holds up outside their own department.
Fortunately, this aligns perfectly with our mission at thinkpac. Our ReCree8® resin is GRS and RecyClass certified. Plus, we manufacture it right at our own facility. As a result, it is priced to compete directly with virgin plastics. Rather than being a premium eco-product, it is a simple swap with a much stronger story.
A practical next step: the ReCree8® Impact Calculator
To help teams build that internal case, we created the ReCree8® Impact Calculator. This free tool easily measures the impact of switching to recycled content. Therefore, it serves as a great starting point for Scope 3 reporting or internal proposals.
What’s next
The PIDA award results will be announced by the end of July. We will certainly share an update once they are released.
In the meantime, you might be assessing pallet wrap, bin liners, or other packaging. If you need to balance sustainability with cost criteria, please get in touch. Alternatively, you can run the numbers yourself using our free tool below.
