Bupa has announced it will shift to using 100 per cent recyclable paper bags in its optical stores across Australia taking around 100,000 bags out of landfill every year.
The company said its new bags are made using Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) paper that uses a mixture of materials from FSC-certified forests, recycled materials, and/or FSC controlled wood.
Bupa optical and hearing director Guneet Sawhney said this initiative is a step forward in the company's commitment to reducing its environmental footprint.
“We used close to 100,000 laminated cardboard bags in our stores last year that could not be recycled, so taking action to find a sustainable solution was critical.
“This change to FSC paper ensures our new bags for optical purchases are made using sourced responsibly materials and sustainable business practices.
“There were 100,000 reasons for us to make this change. Moving to recyclable bags might seem like a small change, but it can have a significant impact on the environment,” said Guneet.
Bupa Optical said it also participates in a recycling program for contact lenses where customers can bring in their old disposable contact lenses and packaging to be recycled in-store.