As Featured in Waste Management Review

Providing a Circular Solution for Soft Plastics

Circular Solution is more than recycling. At thinkpac, it means turning soft plastic waste into new packaging products.

This article highlights how thinkpac’s recycling and manufacturing model was featured in Waste Management Review.

Circular Solution for soft plastics featured in Waste Management Review

Circular Solution for Soft Plastic Waste

Circular Solution thinking is essential for soft plastics. For many people, plastic now brings to mind polluted oceans, landfill and waste.

However, the problem is not only plastic itself. The bigger issue is what happens when people dispose of plastic badly, or when recycling systems do not have strong end markets.

At thinkpac, we approach the issue from a different angle. We recycle soft plastics and turn them into useful new products.

A Circular Solution Featured in Waste Management Review

As seen in the May 2022 edition of Waste Management Review, thinkpac provides a circular solution for soft plastics.

The model connects recycling with manufacturing. This means soft plastic waste can move through processing and become a new end product.

You can visit Waste Management Review to learn more about waste, recycling and resource recovery news.

How Thinkpac’s Circular Solution Works

Thinkpac’s model brings key steps together. As a result, the process can create cleaner recycled material and more reliable finished products.

Collect

Soft plastic waste enters a recovery pathway instead of landfill.

Recycle

The material is washed, processed and turned into recycled pellets.

Manufacture

Recycled material becomes new soft plastic products.

Return

Finished products return to the Australian supply chain.

Why This Circular Solution Matters for Australia

Australia needs better pathways for soft plastics. Flexible plastics make up a large share of packaging, yet recovery rates remain low.

If soft plastics do not move into useful products, they can end up in landfill. Therefore, demand for recycled-content products is vital.

A circular solution helps bridge that gap by linking waste collection, recycling, manufacturing and product use.

Circular Solution and the 2025 National Packaging Targets

Australia’s National Packaging Targets created a clear sense of urgency. They aim to improve recycled content, recyclability and packaging recovery.

However, targets need practical systems behind them. Businesses need partners that can turn recovered material into products people can actually use.

Read more about the 2025 National Packaging Targets.

Recycling and Manufacturing Under One Roof

Thinkpac’s vertically integrated model connects recycling with manufacturing. This creates a cleaner stream of recycled material and improves quality control.

The model also gives waste collectors more certainty. They can pass on soft plastics knowing the material has a practical end use.

In turn, end users gain access to recycled products that support circular economy outcomes.

Scaling Soft Plastic Recycling Capacity

Thinkpac has built deep experience in soft plastic manufacturing and recycling. This experience helps us understand product design, material suitability and market needs.

In the Waste Management Review feature, thinkpac noted the need to scale recycling and manufacturing capacity in Australia.

This kind of scale matters because Australia’s soft plastic volumes need reliable, long-term pathways.

Collaboration Is Key to a Circular Solution

No single company can solve the soft plastics problem alone. Australia needs collaboration between waste collectors, manufacturers, brands and end users.

Thinkpac can play one part of the solution. However, the wider industry must also create demand for recycled-content products.

When each part of the system works together, soft plastic waste can become a valuable resource.

The Opportunity for Soft Plastics

Soft plastics already exist in large volumes. The opportunity is to move them into better recovery and reuse pathways.

For waste collectors

A stable end market can make recovery more predictable.

For businesses

Recycled products can support sustainability and procurement goals.

For the environment

More material can move away from landfill and back into use.

Learn More About Circular Packaging

To learn more about packaging action in Australia, visit the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation.

You can also explore circular economy principles through the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

Final Thoughts: A Practical Circular Solution for Soft Plastics

Australia needs more than recycling promises. It needs systems that can turn soft plastic waste into useful products.

Thinkpac’s circular solution helps connect recycling, manufacturing and product demand. As a result, soft plastics can return to the supply chain instead of going to landfill.

This is one practical step toward a stronger circular economy for Australian packaging.

Turn soft plastic waste into value