Australia's Boral to roll out recyclable plastic packaging for bagged dry mix products

Australian construction materials producer Boral will begin transitioning bagged dry mix products manufactured at its Maldon, New South Wales, facility to packaging made from recycled plastic that is fully recyclable at the end of life, according to a company statement on July 2.

The phased rollout is scheduled to commence in mid-July and will cover a range of products, including concrete, mortar, cement and sand mixes, grout and other sand-based blends.

Boral said the new packaging, produced using Form, Fill and Seal technology, is designed to improve product durability and storage flexibility compared with traditional paper bags. The airtight plastic bags are expected to extend shelf life, reduce product loss from damage and allow outdoor storage without additional weather protection.

The company said the move reflects changing storage and handling practices across construction sites and retail channels, where exposure to weather can affect paper-based packaging.

Boral has also incorporated standardized visual icons on the bags to improve product identification and usage guidance, particularly for customers from non-English-speaking backgrounds.

Rajeev Ramankutty, Boral's executive general manager for cement, said the transition is aimed at improving product performance while supporting circular-economy objectives by using recycled and recyclable materials.

The company plans to progressively expand the packaging format across its broader bagged product portfolio as part of a staged implementation program.

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, assessed cement (ASTM type I) FOB Vietnam at $39.5/mt on July 2, unchanged from the previous week. Platts also assessed cement clinker FOB Vietnam at $33.5/mt, flat from the previous week.