An Australian company is rolling out recyclable bread tags in a move it says will eventually rid the nation of 400 million pieces of plastic a year.
Tip Top products in South Australia will from Thursday be fitted with cardboard tags made from industrial and consumer waste.
The Australian first will remove 11 million plastic tags from SA in 2021, Tip Top says.
"South Australia probably leads the way in Australia in terms of curbside recycling. These can be recycled through the curbside process," sales director Graeme Cutler said.
"The only thing we're suggesting is tucking them inside something else when you put them in the paper recycling, a carton or envelope or cardboard box
"Because they're quite small, they may not actually find their way through the process. It's a small adjustment."
Planet Ark CEO, Paul Klymenko, said the tiny tags are problematic in the waste system.
"It is great to see this innovation by Tip Top in using 100 per cent recycled content," he said.
"They are designing out problematic plastic waste and keeping resources in use."
Tip Top is planning a Australia-wide rollout of the cardboard tags over the next two years.
Mr Cutler says it will mean 400 million fewer bits of plastic in waste per year.
He said no extra cost would be passed on to retailers and the new tags are equally as durable.
Tip Top is aiming to have 100 per cent recyclable, reusable or compostable packaging by 2025.
