In the four years since its inception, our Plastic Free Places (PFP) program has eliminated, or removed over 11 million single use takeaway plastic items. This includes straws, cutlery, coffee cups/lids, cups, plastic containers, and single-use water bottles.
Interested food outlets are inducted into the PFP network and assisted to avoid, reuse or switch to non-plastic or certified compostable packaging. We also work with manufacturers and suppliers to facilitate solutions for businesses. There are over 850 food retailer businesses who have joined up nationwide and, as the data shows, change is being achieved. Through this engagement, the Boomerang Alliance team can continue to work with businesses to improve their practices, particularly towards more reusable packaging.
The programs astounding success shows that given our practical advice on products, pricing and procurement support, that the café and event sector can easily switch away from using problem takeaway plastics. It demonstrates that bans being introduced on these products around Australia will work, as long as the sector is given the opportunity to switch, and misleading information (greenwash) is not circulated.
PFP employs an expert coordinator in each location to directly work with cafes, other food outlets and public events. The program has worked in 11 places including Noosa, Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, and Livingstone (QLD) Byron Shire (NSW), Mt Martha, Elsternwick, Moreland (Vic), Adelaide (SA), Bassendean, Victoria Park (WA). We have now added new locations - Randwick (NSW), Mornington Peninsula (VIC) Darwin (NT), SE Tasmania (TAS), Stirling/Rottnest Island (WA), Douglas Shire (QLD) and Port Lincoln (SA). These additional locations have received funding from the Commonwealth Government as part of its Plastic Free Beaches initiative.
More info www.plasticfreeplaces.org
