TradCo has implemented extensive recycling programs across materials such as brass, steel, cardboard, plastics, organics, and electronics. These efforts contribute to a circular economy by ensuring valuable materials are reused and recycled rather than disposed of in landfills.

As of 2025, new solar panels on our Adelaide premises generate more than a third of the site’s electricity needs— cutting around 17 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year and marking an important step in reducing reliance on traditional energy sources. 

TradCo is transitioning to a zero or low emissions vehicle fleet by the end of 2027, aligning our operations with broader environmental sustainability goals.

TradCo is working to eliminate single-use plastics and non-recyclable materials from our packaging in line with our Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) commitments. Materials are being designed out or replaced with compostable alternatives.

In April 2025, we made the switch from petroplastic mailers to fully compostable mailers, helping to eliminate an estimated 13,000 plastic bags from landfill every year. 

To ensure they break down properly, please remove all labels before disposal. Once labels are removed, the compostable mailers can be placed directly into your council’s organic waste (green) bin, where they will naturally decompose alongside food scraps and garden waste. 

In February 2025, we also eliminated plastic pallet wrap in our operations, replacing it with a fully compostable alternative, reducing waste by approximately 64,000 metres of plastic per year. Compostable pallet wrap can also be disposed of in the council organic waste (green) bin. 

This change is part of our ongoing commitment to reducing single-use plastics and making our packaging more sustainable, as we continue our journey towards impact certification. 

Since 2019, we’ve been a signatory to the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), achieving the highest performance rating of ‘beyond best practice’ in APCO’s 2025 annual report. APCO set a target to make all packaging in Australia reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2030.   

The 2030 targets are as follows: 

• 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging. 

• 70% of plastic packaging is recycled or composted. 

• 50% of average recycled content included in packaging (revised from 30% in 2020). 

• The phase-out of problematic and unnecessary single-use plastic packaging.

Help us do even better by disposing of your TradCo packaging responsibly. Please consult your local council or authority to check domestic waste and recycling initiatives in your area.

At TradCo, we take a meticulous approach to selecting materials, considering their elemental properties, manufacturing capabilities, texture, colour, hand-feel, and durability. The majority of our products are made from brass, a second-use material, which is infinitely recyclable and does not degrade over time, further reducing our environmental impact.