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Victa Lawncare Pty Ltd
NATIONAL PACKAGING COVENANT
(PUBLIC REPORT)
Action Plan
July 2007 – June 2010
Page 1
Index
1. Company Profile
2. Company Details
3. Executive Summary and Commitment
4. The Waste Hierarchy
5. Company Requirements under 2005 National Packaging Covenant
5.1.Previous Environmental Achievements and Proposed Improvements
5.2.Victa Lawncare Environmental Code of Practice for Packaging
5.3.Product Stewardship Commitments
5.4.Roles and Undertakings (including Action Plan)
5.5.Indicative Baseline Data against Action Plan KPIs (qualifications and assumptions)
5.6.Indicative individual targets and timelines
Page 2
Company Profile
Victa Lawncare Pty Ltd is an Australian owned company that has been the leading manufacturer,
importer, distributor and marketer of walk behind lawnmowers in Australia for over 50 years. Victa is
also a leading brand in the neighbouring New Zealand market.
Victa had its beginnings in suburban Sydney in 1952 and since that time has manufactured over 7
million mowers. The brand is synonymous with lawn mowing in Australian households and is one of
Australia’s most significant homegrown marketing creations.
The Head Office of Victa Lawncare is situated at a large site at Moorebank in western Sydney with a
staff of approximately 50. Marketing, sales, finance, HR, operations management, manufacturing,
assembly and warehousing are located within this complex.
The company’s product range comprises a range of petrol two and four stroke mowers and mower
and garden maintenance accessories. Victa is also distributor of the Enviromower electric mower.
Victa Lawncare Pty Ltd is a division of GUD Holdings Ltd, which specialises in manufacturing,
offshore sourcing, supply chain and brand management. Other businesses within GUD Holdings
include:
• Sunbeam small appliances
• Oates cleaning hardware
• Ryco, Wesfil and Goss automotive parts
• Davey pumps and water pressure systems
• Spa-Quip spa controllers, heaters, pumps and filters
• Microlene, Steriflo and Filterpure water treatment products
• Monarch Pool Systems products for swimming pools
• Lock Focus, Locktech and Kiroo security products
Page 3
Company Details
Head Office
Victa Lawncare Pty Ltd
Administration, Assembly, Warehousing and Distribution
1 Moorebank Avenue
Moorebank, NSW 2170
Australia
Locked Bag 4096
Milperra BC NSW 1891
61 2 8778 5550 (Phone)
61 2 8778 5505 (Fax)
Company Website www.victa.com.au.
Contact Person
Mark Kleeberg
Supply Chain Manager
Victa Lawncare Pty Ltd
1 Moorebank Avenue
Moorebank, NSW 2170
Australia.
61 2 8778 5565 (Phone)
0417 285756 (Mobile)
email: mkleeberg@victa.com.au
Page 4
Executive Summary and Commitment
Victa Lawncare Pty Ltd is a manufacturer, importer, distributor and marketer of lawnmowers and
garden maintenance products.
The company views itself as an environmentally aware member of the community and will ensure
that efforts are made and resources are directed towards being environmentally responsible. Victa
Lawncare is committed to Packaging Covenant process and its objectives, to resource conservation,
product stewardship and the principles of shared responsibility for packaging. Many of Victa
Lawncare’s major customers, as signatories to the NPC, also require demonstrated commitment to it
by their suppliers.
Senior management of Victa Lawncare oversees the responsibilities under the Packaging Covenant
and ensures that relevant resources are available to achieve successful outcomes. Performance related
to these commitments is reviewed regularly and decisions and actions are internally communicated.
A revised and strengthened Packaging Covenant came into force in 2005, under which signatories are
required to produce an Action Plan reporting baseline data and proposing targets. The current report
comprises this undertaking. This report outlines the Victa Lawncare brands, the consumption of
consumer packaging, previous achievements and plans for 2007 - 2010. This document also addresses
issues and makes commitments related to Product Stewardship and the Environmental Code of
Practice for Packaging, a part of the National Packaging Covenant. This plan continues to develop
and implement programs that are informed by The Waste Hierarchy, the overall strategy for waste
management in Australia.
Victa’s products are sold to the public via distributors which include Bunnings, Big W, Harvey
Norman and Retravision. Smaller distributors include independent power equipment suppliers all
around Australia. Approximate sales volumes are as follows:
Australia 85%
New Zealand 10%
Global 5% (UK, Nigeria etc)
Raw materials and manufactured components are received from Australian and overseas suppliers
mainly in stretch wrapped (plastic code 4) cardboard cartons. The majority of cardboard contains
recycled content.
Finished goods are dispatched in recycled content cardboard cartons (or non-recycled content
cardboard where there are packaging strength issues). A small amount of code 6 polystyrene and code
1 polyethylene bubble-wrap is used.
The 2007-2010 Victa Lawncare Action Plan aims to develop and implement improvements across the
organization in areas such as:
- refining and expanding environmental performance monitoring systems,
- analysing, reviewing and acting on performance indicators,
- investigating opportunities for further packaging material reduction,
- driving improvements in waste minimization and recycling,
- working with other members of the packaging supply chain in expanding reuse and
recycled content products and packaging,
- Furthering education and awareness of staff, suppliers, customers, and consumers in
packaging re-use, recycling and appropriate disposal.
Page 5
The Waste Hierarchy
Materials should be conserved through more efficient use, the avoidance of unnecessary consumption
and the encouragement of re-use, recycling and energy recovery. The waste hierarchy states that
wastes should be managed in accordance with the following order of preference:
1. Avoidance (source reduction)
2. Re-use
3. Recycling
4. Energy Recovery
5. Disposal
Page 6
Previous Environmental Achievements and Proposed Improvements
This is the first Action Plan by Victa Lawncare. Previous environmental achievements focussed on
good environmental practice and reduction and reuse of packaging. They have had the effect of
improving business performance whilst reducing our products’ impact on the environment. Victa is
an environmentally responsible global citizen and its products are packaged in recyclable packaging
which contains recycled content.
Existing achievements:-
• New environmentally friendly products, which are popular and increasing market share, such
as the Tornado Mulch or Catch, which reduces mowing time (and fuel while engine idles),
provides nutrients for the lawn, reduces evaporation and reduces garden (possible landfill)
waste.
• Elimination of alkaline (caustic) deck washing material. This alkaline material was used to
remove oil from pressed metal prior to painting. Instead now the oil is removed without
caustic and returned to the metal plate pressers. As a result Victa is no longer required to pay
wastewater discharge fees.
• The majority of packaging items are printed or embossed with the appropriate recycle
symbols.
• Raising the environmental awareness with employees.
• Identified and separated waste and recycle streams.
• Re-use of outer cardboard shippers to pack and send goods locally (as pallet edge and flat
protectors).
• Re-use of received non-returnable pallets (to send goods).
• All cardboard, office paper and plastic wrap waste is separated at source and collected by
recyclers.
• The majority of cardboard shippers used are made from recycled board.
• Return/reuse of plastic engine nest trays used to transport engines from suppliers in Adelaide
(replacing single use cardboard packaging).
• Several powder coating booths designed as clean closed systems permit used waste powder
to be collected and returned to powder coating supplier. Each of the new booths is dedicated
to a common Victa colour. Uncommon colours (remaining 30% of volume) still use non-
recycling systems.
Proposed improvements
• Use of recycled office paper.
• Return of cardboard packaging to sender.
• Reduction of number of waste bins from 3 to 1 replaced by recycle metal bins.
• Replace waste bins with aluminium and steel recycle bins.
• Establish aluminium/PET bottle recycling from packaging waste generated on-site in
canteens etc.
• Increase recycling and reduce contamination of recyclates by waste stream audits.
• Reduction of polystyrene packaging, which is used as engine stabilizer. A trial has
commenced to remove most polystyrene packaging while monitoring transport damage
reports. Initial results are encouraging.
• In case of the 25% of production that has polystyrene engine stabiliser packaging; investigate
alternatives e.g. cardboard.
• Powder coating of remaining 30% of volume, uncommon colours still use non-recycling
systems. Investigate economics of establishing more single colour recycling spray booths.
• Investigation of in-house polypropylene (e.g. grass catcher) recycling.
• Commence metal (aluminium, steel) recycling.
Page 7
Victa Lawncare Pty Ltd Environmental Code of Practice for Packaging
The Environmental Code of Practice for Packaging is part of the National Packaging Covenant. The following
specific commitments related to the Environmental Code of Practice for Packaging are made.
• All packaging will conform to all government Acts, Regulations and Australian Standards.
• The Environmental Code of Practice and the Packaging Covenant are promoted through supply
chain linkages to customers and end users.
• Overall strategies to reduce environmental impacts across packaging supply/recovery chains are
addressed.
• The packaging decision making process will be documented for beneficial and adverse
environmental impacts by specific reference to the following points 1-7. If any conflict exists The
Waste Hierarchy (avoidance/source reduction, re-use, recycling, energy recovery, disposal) and the
requirement for the product to properly and safely perform its primary function will inform
consideration of the documented best approach.
Victa Lawncare Pty Ltd is committed to these requirements:
1. Avoidance/Source reduction, (where product efficacy, safety and appeal are not affected)
• Production and promotion of environmentally friendly products.
• Avoidance of packaging or reduction of packaging mass and dimensions.
• Use of non-virgin and re-used raw materials.
• Reduction in energy and water use.
2. Potential for Re-use
• If possible favour reuse rather than single use internal packaging (e.g. plastic engine nest trays)
• Reuse packaging, (e.g. cardboard) rather than use new materials.
3. Recovery and recycling
• Consideration of product impact on resource recovery and recycling prior to introduction to market.
• In house recycling of pre-consumer and post-consumer packaging.
• Use of single product material and packaging wherever possible (avoidance of composites).
• Provision of disassembly instructions for mixed material products (aluminium/steel)
4. Incorporating recycled content
• Purchase of packaging with recycled content except where packaging strength is compromised
• Victa Lawncare Pty Ltd commits to a “Buy recycled” policy in all areas of its business.
5. Minimising impacts of packaging
• Avoidance of hazardous or toxic materials and elimination of trade waste.
• Reuse then recycling of process packaging waste wherever possible.
6. Propensity to become litter
• Use of recycling logo.
7. Consumer information
• Recycle logo is present in packaging.
• Information is provided to sales staff and customers on recycling of packaging. This information is
available at http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/education/spd_edu_easyrecycling.htm.
• Product packaging used and received by the company is cardboard and plastics codes 1, 4, 6.
Council facilities for these types are increasingly available. Consumers are advised to check their
local council’s recycling facilities.
..... ..................... (Gregory Goldsmith, Operations Manager) . . . . . . . . .
EXECUTIVE SIGNATURE DATE
Page 8
Product Stewardship Commitments
Required Action under Covenant Victa Lawncare’s Commitment
(as relevant) (with specific examples)
a) Design: consider aspects of • Packaging to conform to all government Acts, Regulations
design of packaging including and Standards.
recovery, reuse, recycling and • Environmental Code of Practice for Packaging considered
litter reduction in product development.
• Avoidance of composite products in packaging if possible.
• Disassembly instructions included for mixed (e.g.
aluminium/steel) products.
• Packaging artwork will be reviewed for new/revised
product/packaging for size/visibility of recycling logos
b) Packaging: minimisation of • Energy use is monitored.
amount of material used in • Reuse/recycling of cardboard packaging received with
production imported company goods.
• To increase recycled content of packaging and product
inputs Victa Lawncare commits to a policy of “Buy
recycled” in all areas of its business where this is
practicable including office and consumer product
information paper.
• Most purchased cardboard packaging is 100% recycled
material.
• Replacement of polystyrene product packaging
investigated.
• Recycling of polypropylene (mower catchers etc)
investigated.
c) Distribution: reduce material and • Distribution is reviewed for cost and energy efficiency
energy consumption
d) Disposal: facilitate safe and easy • Victa provides disassembly instructions for mixed material
disposal including recovery, products, such as aluminium engines on steel bases.
reuse and recycling to minimise • Victa Lawncare provides information on recycling of
environmental impact consumer packaging to customers through company
representatives
(http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/education/spd_edu_easyre
cycling.htm).
e) Research: facilitate research re • Will be considered in future Action Plans.
supply, use and recovery of
packaging, identification of new
uses and markets and reduction
of amount of packaging
f) Education: helping to establish • See (d)
and finance the circulation of
reliable information for
consumers to assist their choice
g) Labelling: accurate consumer • The recycle logo is present (1x) on most outer cardboard
information and labelling to packaging.
encourage recycling • Recycling logos will be included as required and the size
and number of recycle logos will be increased as
packaging artwork is revised for new product packaging.
h) Wholesaling and retailing: Point • Recycling Pamphlets are being made available through
of sale recycling information. company representatives.
Page 9
Victa Lawncare Action Plan
Roles and Undertakings
The Victa Lawncare Action Plan runs from 1 July 2007 – 30 June 2010. Mandatory environmental performance targets will be reported upon by
31 October each year during this period.
Goal 1 KPI 1
General Goal Goal for individual Monitoring Comment
brand owner requirement
Packaging designed, Total weight of • Tonnes of Packaging types - imported
manufactured, consumer packaging packaging by • Plastics code 1 (bubblewrap).
distributed and (domestic and material type. • Cardboard
marketed to minimise imported) sold per Packaging types - locally purchased
the amount of material annum into the • Tonnes of • Plastics code 1 (bubblewrap).
and other resources Australian market product • Plastic types 6 (polystyrene)
essential to guarantee and the total weight packaged • Cardboard
the protection, safety, of products packaged • Tonnages provided are to the Australian market only (as required
hygiene and shelf life • Ratio of product by the Covenant). Approximately 15% of Victa sales go to export
of product. to packaging market, primarily NZ.
(by weight)
Goal 1 KPI 6
Packaging designed, Total weight by type • Tonnes, by • Victa Lawncare receives or markets its products in cardboard and
manufactured to of “non-recyclable” type. plastic codes 1 and 6.
optimise recoverability packaging sold per • % of total • Code 6 is regarded, by Packaging Covenant definition, as “non-
through collection annum into the packaging sold. recyclable” due to low recycling rates in the marketplace, however
systems including Australian market. recycling of these plastic types is now more common. Consumers are
kerbside recycling advised to check their local council’s recycling facilities.
schemes. • Plastic wrap (type 4) received by Victa is recycled.
• Cardboard packaging is 100% recyclable.
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Goal 2 KPI 16
General Goal Goal for individual Monitoring Comment
brand owner requirement
Provision of Collection Percentage of Recycling See below
Services for post signatories providing collection facilities
consumer packaging recycling collection for post-consumer
and paper facilities for post- packaging
consumer packaging generated on-site
generated on-site. provided.
Goal 4 KPI 21
Increased recycling of Estimated tonnage of Tonnes Disposed • A significant amount of cardboard outer packaging received from
used packaging consumer packaging and Tonnes local and overseas is reused to ship to customers as pallet and
recycled and sent to Recycled corner protectors etc. Other cardboard is recycled.
landfill respectively, • Received stretch wrap is commercially recycled.
from on-site • Aluminium can and PET bottle recycling is about to commence in
collection facilities. all workplaces.
• Regular waste and recycle stream audits have commenced to
ensure all recyclables are recycled and recycle streams are not
contaminated.
Goal 4 KPI 22
Adoption of Adoption of Victa Lawncare to See below
Environmental Code of Environmental Code implement the
Practice for Packaging of Practice for Environmental
Packaging Code of Practice for
Packaging
Page 11
Goal 4 KPI 26
General Goal Goal for individual Monitoring Comment
brand owner requirement
Adoption of “Buy Adoption of “Buy Victa Lawncare See below
Recycled” Purchasing Recycled” adopt “Buy
Policy. Purchasing Policy. Recycled”
Purchasing Policy
Goal 5 KPI 27, 28, 29
Continuous • Establishment of See below
improvement baseline
demonstrated against performance data.
baseline data and all • Annual Reporting
relevant KPIs against Action
Plan.
• Demonstrated
improvement and
achievements
against individual
targets and
milestones.
Page 12
xIndicative Baseline Data against Action Plan KPIs (Qualifications and assumptions)
Goal 1 KPI 1
Goal for Monitoring Aim Baseline Data (April 2006 – April 2007)
individual brand requirement
owner
Total weight of • Tonnes of Increase ratio of Packaging Type Imported (T/yr) Domestic (T/yr)
consumer packaging by product to Plain Cardboard xxx xxx
packaging material type. packaging. Plastics - Type 1 (bubblewrap) xxx xxx
(domestic and Plastics - Type 6 (polystyrene) 0 xxx
imported) sold per
annum into the Tonnes of product packaged xxx T/y
Australian market
and the total weight Packaging Type Packaging Ratio
of products • Tonnes of product Plain Cardboard 11.5
packaged packaged Plastics - Type 1 (bubblewrap) 3218
Plastics - Type 6 (polystyrene) 11350
• Ratio of product to
packaging (by
weight)
Goal 1 KPI 6
Total weight by • Tonnes, by type. Reduce non- Packaging types (kg/yr)
type of “non- recyclable • Plastic Type 6: xxx Tonne/yr
recyclable” • % of total packaging in • % of Total packaging: 0.1%
packaging sold per packaging sold. product range.
annum into the
Australian market.
Page 13
Goal 2 KPI 16
Signatories Recycling collection Provide recycling • Established for office paper, cardboard, plastic wrap, aluminium
providing recycling facilities for post- collection facilities cans, PET bottles and hazardous (printer cartridges).
collection facilities consumer packaging for post-consumer • Aluminium can recycle collection bins in lunchrooms and other
for post-consumer generated on-site packaging employee areas. Collected cans recycled.
packaging provided. generated on-site. • All unusable cardboard is commercially recycled.
generated on-site. • Periodic audits are conducted to ensure correct separation of landfill
waste and recyclables.
• Waste paper from office is separated at source by user, collected by
cleaner and recycled.
• Hazardous recyclable materials are separately recycled (printer
toner).
• In-process plastic waste (Type 4) is commercially recycled.
Goal 4 KPI 21
Estimated tonnage Tonnes Disposed and Tonnes Recycled The company is monitoring mass of recyclates and material to landfill.
of consumer Tonnes Recycled
packaging recycled Amount to landfill (T/y) Estimate %
and sent to landfill Tonnes Disposed to Steel 2.0 1.3%
respectively, from landfill Aluminium 0.26 0.2%
on-site collection plastic type 1 0.0 0.0%
facilities. plastic type 4 0.40 0.3%
plastic type 6 0.05 0.0%
Cardboard xxx 13.3%
Total 22.7 15%
Amount to recycle (T/y) Estimate %
Steel 5.0 3.3%
Aluminium 0.0 0.0%
plastic type 1 0.0 0.0%
plastic type 4 2.9 1.9%
plastic type 6 0.0 0.0%
Cardboard xxx 79.7%
Total xxx 85%
Page 14
Goal 4 KPI 22
Adoption of Adoption of Victa Lawncare to • Victa Lawncare has committed to the Australian Environmental
Environmental Environmental Code of implement use of Code of Practice for Packaging.
Code of Practice for Practice for Packaging Environmental • Victa will use documentation to ensure best environmental practice
Packaging Code of Practice for in design of new products.
Packaging • As new product lines are introduced or packaging updated, if absent
the recycle logo is being included on packaging.
Goal 4 KPI 26
General Goal Goal for individual Monitoring Comment
brand owner requirement
Adoption of “Buy Adoption of “Buy Victa Lawncare • Purchasing Procedures state that the company will consider products
Recycled” Recycled” Purchasing adopt “Buy with highest recycled content in purchasing decisions and
Purchasing Policy. Policy. Recycled” implement where product efficacy, safety and appeal is not
Purchasing Policy compromised.
• Purchasing staff are encouraged to purchase products with the
highest level of recycled content.
• Locally purchased cardboard is composed of 100% recycled
material.
Goal 5 KPI 27, 28, 29
Continuous • Establishment of • Baseline data established.
improvement baseline
demonstrated performance data.
against baseline • Annual Reporting
data and all relevant against Action Plan.
KPIs • Demonstrated
improvement
against individual
targets.
Page 15
Indicative individual targets and timelines
Goal 1 KPI 1
Goal for individual Targets Comment
brand owner
Total weight of Targets • Cardboard wall thickness will be downsized
consumer packaging Baseline 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 where possible without affecting box strength.
(domestic and Cardboard 11.5 11.8 12.2 12.5 • Lighter gauge plastics and replacement of
imported) sold per polystyrene are regularly reviewed.
Plastic code 1
annum into the
(bubblewrap) 3218 3540 3862 4183
Australian market
Plastic code 6
and the total weight
(polystyrene) 11350 12485 13620 14755
of products packaged.
Aim: Increase ratio of
product to packaging.
Goal 1 KPI 6
Total weight by type Use of non-recyclable polystyrene and any possible
of “non-recyclable” Polystyrene (T/y) Targets recyclable replacement is regularly reviewed.
packaging sold per Baseline 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 Polystyrene has been eliminated from 75% of
annum into the production lines in recent years. Its replacement is
0.34 0.31 0.27 0.24
Australian market. constrained by efficacy and appeal requirements.
Aim: Reduce non- •
recyclable packaging
in product range.
Goal 2 KPI 16
Signatories providing Established for office paper, cardboard, plastic wrap, aluminium • Complied.
recycling collection cans and PET botles.
facilities for post-
consumer packaging
generated on-site.
Page 16
Goal 4 KPI 21
Estimated tonnage of Amount to landfill (T/y) Regular waste audits are being conducted to ensure
consumer packaging Baseline 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 all recyclables are recycled and that recycle streams
recycled and sent to Steel 2.0 1.6 1.2 0.8 are not polluted with landfill waste materials.
landfill respectively, Aluminium 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1
from on-site plastic type 1 0 0 0 0
collection facilities. plastic type 4 0.40 0.3 0.2 0.2
Aim: Increase Tonnes plastic type 6 0.05 0.04 0.03 0.02
Recycled cardboard 20 16 12 8
Total 23 18 14 9
Amount to recycle (T/y)
Baseline 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10
Steel 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5
Aluminium 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.2
plastic type 1 0.0 0 0 0
plastic type 4 2.9 3.0 3.2 3.3
plastic type 6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
cardboard xxx xxx xxx xxx
Total Xxx xxx xxx xxx
Goal 4 KPI 22
Adoption of Victa Lawncare to continue use of Environmental Code of • Complied.
Environmental Code Practice for Packaging
of Practice for
Packaging
Goal 4 KPI 26
Adoption of “Buy Victa Lawncare will identify products it purchases that contain • Complied.
Recycled” no or low recycled content to see if any effective alternatives
Purchasing Policy. exist that have recycled content.
Page 17
Goal 5 KPI 27, 28, 29
Establishment of Baseline data established • Baseline data established and targets set.
baseline performance Annual Report due 31/10/07
data.
Annual Reporting First Action plan (no report as yet) • Reporting of improvements to 30/6/07 on
against Action Plan. 31/10/07 and each year thereafter.
Demonstrated First Action plan (no report as yet)
improvement and
achievements against
individual targets and
milestones.
Victa Lawncare is happy with the quality and robustness of the baseline data provided in this report and will report annually against this baseline
data by 31 October for preceding year 1 July to 30 June.
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