Plastic shun spells big business for Netley-based BioBag World Australia

A Netley manufacturer expects the “phenomenal” increase in demand for compostable bags – as part of a move to reduce waste going to landfill – will lead to him doubling his workforce.

BioBag World Australia Director Scott Morton with new machinery at Netley, and the Biobags it produces. Picture: Matt Turner.

• Plastic bag ban: SA reviews 10 years of controversial policy
• Environment Minister wants to ban single-use plastic items

A Netley manufacturer expects the “phenomenal” increase in demand for compostable bags – as part of a move to reduce waste going to landfill – will lead to him doubling his workforce.

BioBag World Australia director Scott Morton said new machinery at his Richmond Rd factory, costing about $500,000, would allow him to manufacture compostable bags used for food waste.

Until now the business has imported the bags from Europe and distributed them to up to 40 councils across SA and interstate.

Mr Morton expects that locally manufacturing the bags, made from corn starch, will lead to him at least doubling his staff to about 25 people over the next year.

“The demand for compostable bags is just phenomenal,” he said.

A worldwide move away from plastic meant there were huge opportunities for companies such as his.

“With the combination of China clamping down on waste, along with Europe banning a lot of single-use waste, and in Australia, there’s many jurisdictions looking at it now … it will just spiral,” Mr Morton said.

In January, Environment Minister David Speirs flagged a potential ban of single-use plastic items such as coffee cups, straws, shopping bags and cutlery.

Public comment on a discussion paper, Turning the tide on single-use plastic products, is open until Friday, and Mr Speirs is expected to take action if South Australians are on board.

Mr Morton, who started his business 13 years ago, said a local ban on single-use plastic in SA would be “absolutely fantastic”.

“They’ve done it in France and Italy and the results are really good,” he said.

BioWorld Australia also manufactures Peakfresh bags, which keep fruits and vegetables fresh for longer.

The company plans to eventually make those bags compostable. It also produces compostable mulch films for the agriculture industry.

“Last year, we would have distributed well over 100 tonnes of compostable films,” Mr Morton said.

Almost 90 per cent of Australian food waste ends up in landfill, but more and more councils are now recycling the waste through residents’ green bins.

BioWorld Australia’s machinery upgrade was part-funded by Green Industries (formerly Zero Waste SA).

Mr Speirs said SA had an opportunity to use the waste, recycling and reprocessing industry to drive a boost to the state’s economy.

“To see a local company get ahead of the curve and start manufacturing compostable bags right here in Adelaide is a big tick for our approach to recycling as well as a boost for local jobs.”

To comment on the plastic issue, visit yoursay.sa.gov.au.