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Sara Lee and the Environment |
Every
delicious product that we produce comes in a package to maintain its
freshness and keep it in the best condition for your consumption.
Sara Lee Bakery is very aware of the impact which our packaging makes on
the environment.
Although our products have an expiry date, our packaging can remain in the
environment for a very long time.
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Delicious Products |
Sara Lee Bakery packaging identifying recyclable items
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Cardboard ready for recycling
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What can
Sara Lee Bakery do to reduce the impact of our packaging on the
environment?
Sara Lee Bakery is dedicated to sensible environmental management and is
committed to ensuring the continuous reduction of the impact on the
environment caused by the production plant. Sara Lee also seeks to promote
to its consumers the responsible disposal of packaging. |
That is why Sara Lee Bakery signed the National Packaging Covenant.
What is the National Packaging Covenant? The National Packaging Covenant is an agreement between government and industry to:
- Minimise the environmental impact of consumer packaging waste throughout the entire life cycle of the packaging product;
- Close the recycling loop by reusing products made from recycled materials;
- Develop economically viable and sustainable recycling collection systems; and
- ensure that the voluntary process continues.
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Foil ready for recycling. |
Cartons & Packaging ready for collection |
POSITIVE STEPS TO A BETTER ENVIRONMENT
Sara Lee strives to continuously improve products, packaging and manufacturing operations to further reduce the impact on the environment. For example, Sara Lee is actively committed to reducing the amount of material used in packaging and in increasing the percentage of recycled and recyclable material used. Current achievements include the reduction of board used for cartons, reducing flaps of inner boxes and foil reduction.
Sara Lee Bakery is a member of the Waste Minimisation Industry Group which is run through the Advanced Manufacturing Centre (AMC). This Industry Group works toward solving specific industry issues and has a key focus on reducing environmental waste and energy.
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PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP
Packaging and product development are a key focus of the organisation. All new and existing products are reviewed for environmental friendliness, and waste
minimisation. Sara Lee Bakery strives to minimise packaging and maximise the recyclable qualities of all new products.
It is important to Sara Lee to effectively communicate to our customers the importance of recycling. 50-75% of our packaging displays disposal recommendations. To further our commitment to the environment and in moving forward consumers and staff will become our key focus.
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Food waste ready to be sent to worm farmer
Staff identifying recyclable
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RECYCLING AND WASTE COMMITMENT
Waste measurement and minimisation have been a key focus for Sara Lee Bakery for some time.
This is reflected in the current recycling programs we have in place. Waste board and cartons, foils, water, food waste, tins and solid wastes are already recycled through local facilities. Ways to improve and increase recycling is an ongoing challenge.
Increasing the awareness of Sara Lee staff, customers and suppliers is important for not just the end use of our product but also for the kerbside recycling system. The overall benefit to the environment can be enhanced by the number of companies involved in the packaging cycle awareness program.
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