This article first appeared in Convenience & Impulse Retailing, authored by Thomas Oakley-Newell
Image: Intersnack ANZ will use the recycled material to manufacture plastic packaging for some of its products.
Viva Energy has successfully produced its first ISCC+ certified mass-balanced bio-based polymer (recycled food-grade plastic) at the Geelong Refinery, using a batch of used cooking oil (UCO).
The development marks the first time UCO has been processed through the refinery’s catalytic cracker and polypropylene plant to create recycled food-grade plastic.
The UCO was sourced from Intersnack A/NZ in New South Wales, where it had been used to cook popular snack brands including Kettle Chips, CC’s, Natural Chip Company, Thins, and Cheezels. Later this year, Intersnack ANZ will use the recycled material to manufacture plastic packaging for some of its products.
Cleanaway collected and processed the UCO before it was delivered to the refinery. Viva Energy has made infrastructure upgrades to accommodate the use of alternative feedstocks in its operations.
Lachlan Pfeiffer, Chief Strategy Officer at Viva Energy, said the project serves as a proof-of-concept to assess the feasibility of such processes.
“Over time, the plan is to expand the scale of the processing, create new roles for the refinery and transform the site into a broader energy hub.
“There is growing interest in plastic with recycled content and in a more sustainable solution to Australia’s plastic waste challenges, particularly from food manufacturers like Intersnack ANZ. We believe there will be a strong market for food-grade packaging made from recycled materials, but we recognise there is a need for regulatory support for this to be a success.”
Kurt Preshaw, CEO of Intersnack A/NZ, said the initiative aligns with the company’s sustainability goals.
“We are excited about this important first step for Intersnack A/NZ and its potential to address the broader industry challenge of plastic waste. Our customers and consumers expect us to reduce our reliance on virgin plastic, and this initiative is a critical first step toward that goal.”
Viva Energy plans to assess the environmental benefits of its bio-based, recycled, and lower-carbon products over the next year. The refinery, which is part of the Viva Energy Hub, supports energy security, the energy transition, and the circular economy. The company also intends to explore other alternative feedstocks, including plastic pyrolysis oil and tyre pyrolysis oil, in the coming months.
