Amcor reduces fresh water use by 90% at Queensland Mill

By switching from using fresh drinking water to purified recycled water in the water-intensive cartonboard manufacturing process, the Mill has reduced consumption of town water by 90%, equivalent to up to four million litres per day – or over 1 billion litres per year.

To successfully deliver these impressive results, Amcor partnered with Moreton Bay Regional Council and the Queensland State Government. Working together, the nearby Murrumba Downs waste water treatment plant was adapted to use the world’s best technology and convert wastewater to purified recycled water. This water now feeds directly into the Petrie Mill.

According to Nigel Garrard, Managing Director of Amcor’s Australasia division, “Customers, investors and Governments are demanding action from industry to help address global climate change and conserve the environment. Amcor announced a global EnviroAction program in 2008, which included aggressive water reduction targets. The Petrie Mill in Queensland is a fantastic example of how innovative thinking and forging strong partnerships with local communities can produce a solution where everyone wins. We have been one of the top 10 water users in the Brisbane catchment area. Being able to dramatically reduce our fresh water consumption is an excellent outcome for the community and the environment.”

Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Allan Sutherland said Amcor has had a long association with the region and is one of its biggest employers. “We’ve been able to partner with Amcor to find an alternative water supply for an important driver of the local economy,” Cr Sutherland said. “By using purified recycled water from the upgraded Murrumba Downs treatment plant, Amcor will free up enough drinking water to fill up to eight Olympic sized swimming pools every week, or more than enough water for the entire Redcliffe Peninsular under current consumption targets. It’s a good result and means we can preserve water capacity for future population growth.”

In addition to the initiative at the Petrie Mill, Amcor has implemented an extensive Water Giving Project. This project, part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, involves harvesting rainwater from the large roof areas of selected Amcor factories and giving this water to the local community to address a local need. Currently, five factories are involved and have the potential to collect and give away 6 million litres of water per year. Amcor co-workers are also encouraged to conserve water in their own homes.

About Amcor

Amcor is a top three global packaging manufacturer offering a broad range of plastic, fibre, metal and glass packaging products and associated packaging related services. It operates through five substantial operating divisions across Australasia, North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Amcor’s headquarters are in Melbourne, Australia. The Company operates in 39 countries with 264 sites across those countries and employs approximately 21,000 people worldwide. For the year ended 30 June 2008, Amcor generated AUD 9.3 billion in revenue.