TEXTILES.ORG
Geofabrics Australasia has been manufacturing geosynthetics for more than three decades at its site at Albury, New South Wales, Australia. The company manufacturers geosynthetics for the building and infrastructure sectors.
Geofabrics Australasia increased its use of recycled content in its products starting in May 2020 with the creation of materials that used 100% recycled packaging for geotextile rolls, flat drainage pipe made from 100% recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and nonwoven paving fabrics made from recycled polyester (PET).
These initiatives have helped to divert upward of 1,000 tons (907 tonnes) of recycled PET (lightweight plastics) and 750 tons (680 tonnes) of recycled HDPE (high-density plastics) from landfill. They have already stopped more than 11 million plastic bottles from being disposed of in landfills or waterways.
“Australians create 74 million tons [67,131,671 tonnes] of waste each year, of which 130,000 tons [117,934 tonnes] of plastic waste ends up in our waterways and oceans,” says Geofabrics CEO and managing director Dennis Grech. “There is a need to move from a ‘make-use-dispose’ model to a ‘make-use-reuse-repair-recycle’ model. As an Australian manufacturer and key player in geosynthetics in the Asia-Pacific region, Geofabrics wants to contribute to the reduction of plastic waste in landfills and to help Australia solve ‘big environmental problems.’
“The impact of our green product portfolio goes beyond the raw material content usage,” Grech adds. “It contributes to sustainable resourcing and procurement and the circular economy.”