9mile – Fresh Thinking: Transitioning to Reusable Plastic Containers
Case Study
1 September 2026
9mile – Fresh Thinking: Transitioning to Reusable Plastic Containers
The Challenge
9mile is one of Australia’s leading apple growers, supplying premium fresh produce to major retailers, including Woolworths.
As retailer expectations around sustainability, automation and supply chain efficiency continue to evolve, 9mile recognised the opportunity to move beyond traditional single-use recyclable cardboard packaging and adopt a more sustainable, future-focused solution.
The business wanted to:
- Reduce packaging costs across the supply chain
- Improve operational efficiency
- Better protect fresh produce during transport
- Meet growing retailer demand for reusable packaging
- Reduce the environmental impact of its packaging
James Ryan, Director & CEO of 9mile, explains:
“Our relationship with Viscount is critical to our business, and we rely heavily on the efficiencies and cost savings that their RPCs deliver. Our major customers prefer our produce coming to them in reusable crates.”
The Results
Since transitioning to reusable packaging, 9mile has achieved measurable operational, commercial and environmental improvements.
Business Benefits
- Lower packaging costs
- Greater supply chain efficiency
- Reduced product damage
- Improved handling across the supply chain
- Increased alignment with retailer packaging preferences
- Stronger long-term partnership with Woolworths
Environmental Impact
By continuing to convert more of its product range into reusable packaging. Compared with single-use recyclable cardboard packaging, 9mile is expected to achieve:
- 70% reduction in carbon emissions
- 67% reduction in pollution
- 84% reduction in water consumption
634,000
Single-use cartons removed
278
CO₂ emissions reduction
Tonnes CO2 eq
94
Waste reduction
kg PM2.5 eq
2772300
Water reduction
L water eq
Matt Goodwin, Head of ReuseCo at Woolworths, said:
“Our partnership with Viscount and the willingness of 9mile to drive sustainable outcomes for the fresh produce supply chain through reusable packaging is exciting. This will create the step change we need to drive sustainable outcomes.”
How we got there…
The Solution
Working alongside Viscount, 9mile transitioned a significant portion of its fresh produce from single-use recyclable cardboard cartons into Viscount’s Reusable Produce Containers (RPCs).
Viscount’s pooling model provides a fully managed reusable packaging solution, allowing growers to access high-quality reusable crates without the need to purchase or manage packaging assets themselves.
The RPC solution delivers:
- Stackable, reusable crates designed for efficient transport and storage
- Improved product protection throughout the supply chain
- Trackable packaging assets for greater visibility
- Easier handling across distribution centres and retail stores
A scalable circular packaging solution aligned with retailer requirements
Why Viscount?
For 9mile, the decision to partner with Viscount was about more than reusable packaging – it was about partnering with an organisation that understands the fresh produce industry.
Viscount’s long-standing relationship with Woolworths, national pooling network and expertise in reusable packaging have helped simplify the transition while delivering ongoing operational benefits.
Supporting the Future of Fresh Produce
The partnership between 9mile, Woolworths and Viscount demonstrates how reusable packaging is helping transform Australia’s fresh produce supply chain.
By replacing single-use packaging with reusable RPCs, growers can reduce costs, improve operational efficiency and strengthen relationships with retailers while delivering meaningful environmental outcomes.
As more growers embrace reusable packaging, partnerships like this continue to demonstrate that circular supply chains deliver benefits for growers, retailers and the environment alike.
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