Opal’s world-class, $140 million corrugated cardboard packaging facility in Wodonga was officially opened on November 15, during National Recycling Week. Wodonga was specifically selected as the site of the new facility due to its central location to eastern Australia and growing customer demand for recyclable packaging.
The facility, which utilises the latest advanced, high-speed packaging manufacturing technology, has a total footprint of approximately 55,000 m². It will process kraft and recycled packaging paper from Opal’s Botany Mill in Sydney and Maryvale Mill in the Latrobe Valley.
Sustainability is a core component of the site’s design, which features water harvesting capability and solar power to leverage the facility’s 41,000 m² of roof area. It will produce high-quality corrugated cardboard packaging to supply a wide range of fresh produce, food processing, FMCG and manufacturing industries across Australia. The facility also features a highly automated materials and waste handling system.
Chris Daly, Executive General Manager, Opal Packaging, said Opal’s strategic investment in Wodonga was driven by market demand for superior, Australian-made recyclable packaging. “Opal’s Wodonga corrugated cardboard facility will enable us to increase our production, create new regional jobs and grow our customer base. Once running at capacity, the facility will be able to produce up to 720,000 m² of packaging board per day, which is equivalent to almost 400 tonnes of finished corrugated boxes.”
Opal is committed to boosting regional jobs and the facility is expected to support more than 400 Victorian jobs including direct and flow-on. Opal is one of Australia and New Zealand’s largest paper and fibre packaging manufacturers and is part of the Nippon Paper Group. Opal is committed to sustainable circular economy business practices in line with its Vision: Opal shapes the future through sustainable packaging.
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Opal’s new facility in Wodonga has a total footprint of approximately 55,000 m²
