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ACCC authorises supermarket soft plastics recycling
The ACCC has granted authorisation with conditions to the major supermarkets Coles Group, Woolworths Group and ALDI Stores to continue their collaboration to recycle stockpiled soft plastics and implement the pilot in-store collection program until 31 July 2026.
The ACCC first granted the supermarkets interim authorisation in November 2022, following the collapse of REDcycle, which operated a nationwide soft plastics collection and recycling program.
“Our decision today allows the supermarkets to continue working together to process the remaining REDcycle legacy stockpiles,” ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said.
“Whilst it is encouraging to see that some progress is now being made as processing capacity improves, the ACCC expects that the supermarkets will continue to prioritise stockpile remediation efforts to prevent further delays.”
The ACCC has decided to impose the same reporting conditions as the previous authorisation, requiring the major supermarkets to provide it with quarterly progress reports and minutes of each meeting of the Soft Plastics Taskforce. These reports and minutes will be published on the ACCC’s public register.
It is also a condition that all arrangements must immediately stop when the authorisation expires or is revoked.
“This is a significant issue for many consumers, so continued transparency about what progress the supermarkets are making in their processing of the soft plastic stockpiles is important,” Keogh said.
Authorisation will also allow the soft plastics instore collection pilot program to continue operating in Victoria and New South Wales and expand to other areas.
“It has been encouraging to see the pilot program expand under the current interim authorisation,” Keogh said. “Whilst we recognise that further expansion needs to be in line with available processing capacity, the ACCC expects that the supermarkets will continue with some urgency to expand these operations so that more consumers have the option of recycling their soft plastics.”
The ACCC’s authorisation is also subject to a new condition to prevent the major supermarkets from restricting recycling or logistic providers from supplying services to another customer.
The authorisation does not include authorisation for any conduct of the supermarkets and their program partners with respect to any proposed stewardship scheme.
More information about the application, including a copy of the decision, is available on the ACCC website.
Image credit: iStock.com/daizuoxin
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Sustainable dye extracted from avocado by-products
Westfalia Fruit has committed to using all parts of the avocado across the supply chain, including the skins and seeds, to make new, sustainable products.
Avocados imported for retail, food service and wholesale customers are carefully inspected and any unsuitable avocados are processed at Westfalia’s facility into products like avocado pulp, smashed avocado and guacamole.
However, the avocado skins and seeds from the process, previously typically used in low-value applications such as anaerobic digesters, are now finding new, higher-value alternative uses.
Having partnered with Efficiency Technologies, the value of the entire by-product channel of avocado skins and stones is assessed to optimise use, with the most recent development being a technology extracting a natural, sustainable dye from avocado stones, with SAGES London.
The process extracts perseorangin (a rare and sought-after natural pigment) from avocado stones collected at Westfalia’s UK facility. The pigment offers eight distinct shades ranging from light yellow to rich reddish-brown, creating new opportunities for sustainable colouring solutions across multiple industries.
Westfalia Fruit’s sustainable dye extraction on display at Fruit Logistica 2025.
The specialised extraction method isolates perseorangin, which constitutes approximately 3% of the avocado stone, and processes it into a dried powder form, providing extended shelf life.
“This breakthrough represents a significant step in our journey toward our total crop use strategy,” said Andrew Mitchell, Head of Group Innovation at Westfalia Fruit.
“By transforming what was once considered by-product into a valuable resource, we’re creating sustainable solutions that benefit multiple industries. The ability to produce eight distinct natural shades while maintaining our commitment to use the entire fruit demonstrates the potential of innovative thinking in sustainable agriculture.”
Besides the dye extraction, remaining materials from the avocado skins and stones are also processed into additional products — for example, starches are directed to paper manufacture as a precursor to packaging production, while ground materials find applications in cosmetics as natural exfoliants, as alternatives to micro-plastics.
The natural dye extraction process represents an advancement in sustainable practices, particularly as industries increasingly seek alternatives to synthetic dyes.
The powder format enables stability and ease of use across various applications, while the range of the eight distinct natural shades provide versatility for different product requirements.
This innovation comes at a time when consumer demand for natural, sustainable products continues to rise across fashion, beauty and packaging sectors. The pigment’s successful showcase at London Fashion Week highlighted its viability in sustainable fashion, while ongoing collaborations with industry leaders in cosmetics and packaging demonstrate its cross-sector appeal.
Plans are underway to understand how the technology could be expanded to additional Westfalia facilities in Europe, where more avocado by-product can be processed using the same techniques.
The company’s integrated operations enable efficient collection and processing of avocado stones and skins from multiple production sites, which will help to maximise the sustainable impact of the initiative and builds upon Westfalia’s commitment to sustainability and circular economy principles.
Top image caption: Westfalia Fruit introduces sustainable dye extraction from avocado by-products.