As part of our broader sustainability strategy, we’re focusing on areas where tangible improvements can make a measurable difference. Recent updates in our distribution centres and packaging processes are already helping us reduce environmental impact and drive greater efficiency in how we work. 

Packaging plays a key role in how we move our products — but it also offers one of the most immediate opportunities for waste reduction. 

We’ve introduced recyclable paper tape on all outbound cartons, replacing traditional plastic tape to improve recycling quality at the receiving end. Our shipping satchels have also been upgraded: they’re now made from post-consumer recycled materials, helping reduce reliance on virgin plastics and diverting waste from landfill. Each satchel includes a second-use seal, allowing customers to reuse the packaging when returning goods — reducing the need for additional materials. 

Inside our distribution centres, we’re continuing to embed sustainable practices into everyday operations. At our largest site — the Melbourne Distribution Centre — we’ve phased out single-use cups by installing a commercial dishwasher and providing reusable drinkware to our team.

We’ve also eliminated the need for paper towel in staff areas by switching to electric hand dryers — a change that removes the equivalent of five pallets of paper towel from our waste stream each year.

“Sustainability just makes sense,” says Ross Barker, DC Manager at Melbourne Airport. “Once you start really digging into the waste a Distribution Centre creates, it can be quite shocking. More and more of our customers are asking what we’re doing to support sustainable outcomes — and now I can confidently tell them: everything we can.”

Beyond shipping and warehouse operations, we’re also making changes to how our garments are presented. Our NNT Uniforms brand has transitioned from traditional plastic Kimble tags to paper string swing tags, eliminating another form of single-use plastic and improving the overall recyclability of garment packaging. 

These changes reflect our commitment to reducing waste and improving resource efficiency in everyday operations. They’re part of a broader, ongoing effort to embed sustainability across our value chain — and help create a more sustainable future, one practical step at a time.