Compostable packs for organic apples

R&R Smith has upped its environmental commitments, ditching plastic in favour of organically recyclable packaging.

TIPA’s home-compostable bags will be used to package R&R Smith’s 1.5 kg bags of Pink Lady and Royal Gala apples.

The shift comes in response to consumer demand and Australia’s incoming phase-out of single-use packaging by 2025. R&R Smith’s entire produce pack — including packaging and any apple remains — can now be fully decomposed in home compost or sent to industrial compost in Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) bin, making the company’s products fully circular.

R&R Smith has been growing apples in its Tasmanian orchard since 1888 and opened Australia’s first certified organic apple orchard in 1998. Its apples meet the standards of organic certification through the NASAA (National Association of Sustainable Agriculture Australia). The company views the health of soils, people and the planet as one continuous, circular system.

While researching compostable solutions, R&R Smith chose TIPA due to its high regulatory certifications to ensure authenticity, transparency, strength, quality and food-safe processing from the orchard to the consumer.

TIPA supplies compostable films and laminates that mimic plastic, and recently expanded into the ANZ market. Its compostable packaging solutions perform like conventional plastic and are certified compostable, leaving no waste behind.

R&R Smith provide apples for well-known brands, including Australia’s supermarket chain Woolworth’s and cider company Willie Smith’s Organic Cider.

Andrew Smith, Managing Director of R&R Smith, said: “We know that our customers want sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic, and we are extremely proud to introduce the first fully home-compostable package for our pre-packaged fruit.

“TIPA has provided the best solution for our produce, and we are pleased that our packaging now returns back to organic matter, making our products fully circular.”

Chen Katz, Chief Revenue Officer at TIPA, said: “Interest in compostable packaging is booming and this has been driven by positive environmental legislation and consumer demand for plastic alternatives. TIPA’s technology is prepared to meet this demand, and we are ready to support the Australian market transition to compostable packaging.”