Giving plastic a second life: Glendale City Centre leads the way in sustainable innovation

At Glendale City Centre we’re proud to announce our new partnership with Resourceful Living, a local Hunter-based company that’s transforming plastic waste into durable, stylish and practical products.

This initiative marks a major milestone with Glendale City Centre being amongst a handful of shopping centres in Australia to implement a closed-loop recycling program of this kind, setting a new standard for environmental responsibility in retail.

♻️ How it works

Behind the scenes, plastics from in-store operations and back-of-house waste streams are carefully collected and sorted into dedicated bins. With a target contamination rate of less than 5%, the program ensures that only clean, recyclable plastics are sent to Resourceful Living’s Kurri Kurri factory.

Once there, the plastics undergo a meticulous process of being:

• Sorted by type and colour
• Pressed into solid sheets
• Crafted into products like coffee tables, bin lids, and signage

These products are then used within the centre or distributed for other practical applications – giving waste a second life and reducing the need for virgin materials.

📊 The impact so far

Since the program launched in June 2025, Glendale City Centre and Resourceful Living have already diverted almost 900kg* of plastic from landfill. That works out to be around 5.2 cubic metres of plastic waste prevented from entering landfill.

This is more than just numbers – it’s a tangible shift toward a cleaner, more sustainable future for the Hunter region.

*Figures as of October 2025.

🌏 The final product

The finished panels produced by Resourceful Living are more than just sustainable – they’re engineered for performance and longevity. Each panel can be recycled up to 11 times, dramatically extending the lifecycle of the material and reducing environmental impact.

Designed as solid blocks with no veneers or coatings, these panels are heat-resistant, waterproof and weatherproof, making them ideal for both indoor and outdoor use. They’re also shock, impact and chip resistant, rust-proof, termite-proof and bacteria resistant, ensuring durability in even the toughest conditions.

With low maintenance needs, resistance to cleaning chemicals, and customisable sizing and thickness, these panels offer a smart, stylish and sustainable solution for modern spaces – proving that recycled materials can be both practical and beautiful.

Keep an eye out as innovative recycled plastic products begin to appear throughout Glendale City Centre. With enough plastic waste now collected to start production, you’ll soon see a range of practical, durable and stylish items made from 100% recycled plastic integrated into the centre’s everyday operations.

From bin lids that are weatherproof and impact-resistant, to tables crafted from solid recycled panels and signage that’s both functional and sustainable – each designed and built to last while enhancing the shopping experience with smart, eco-conscious design.

Learn More: Want to see how Resourceful Living turns plastic into purpose?

👉 Visit their website here: resourcefulliving.com.au