Fortescue Metals Group (Fortescue) is leading the way in reducing its plastic footprint by becoming the first company in the resources sector in Western Australia to remove all retail single-use plastic beverage products from across its business. Instead, beverages will be available for purchase in non-plastic packaging.
Coinciding with Plastic Free July, Fortescue has also introduced reusable containers for all team members and contracting partners for use at its Pilbara mine sites.
Fortescue Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Gaines said, "At Fortescue, we are committed to safeguarding our environment for future generations. We know that single use plastics are having a devastating impact on our environment, with up to 12.7 million tonnes of plastic entering our oceans every year, or the equivalent to a truckload of plastic every minute.
"Through these new initiatives, we will be able to reduce the amount of plastic Fortescue contributes to landfill each year, which will have a lasting impact on the environment," Ms Gaines said.
Director Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Alison Terry said, "The removal of all single use plastic beverage products from our retail stores at site and from our offices in Perth is industry leading and will be a gamechanger in reducing single-use plastic across the business and minimising our environmental impact."
Facts and figures
The removal of all single-use plastic beverage products from across the business will prevent over 8,000 units of plastic from going to landfill every day.
Fortescue's container crib initiative will prevent around 10 million plastic food containers going into landfill every year.
