At Hygain®, we are committed to delivering premium nutrition for horses while reducing our environmental impact. As part of our broader sustainability strategy, we continue to invest in initiatives that help create a cleaner, greener future for the equine industry and the wider community.

Hygain has joined forces with bagMUSTER, an industry-led initiative helping the agricultural sector responsibly manage single-use polypropylene (PP) plastic bags. Through the program, Hygain® will recycle 20 kg and bulka woven polypropylene bags from its Victorian feed mill.

Bags are collected and recycled through bagMUSTER’s growing national network and processed using mechanical and advanced recycling technologies to create new plastic products. Wherever possible, bags are transformed into items such as fence posts, pipes, and planter boxes, keeping them out of landfill and supporting a circular economy. In areas where recycling infrastructure is still developing, other recovery methods ensure bags are responsibly managed.

bagMUSTER has already completed two successful fee-for-service collections with Hygain®, recycling a total of 30.54 tonnes of material. We estimate this partnership will divert approximately 45 tonnes of plastic from landfill each year.

In addition, customers can recycle empty Hygain and Mitavite feed bags through bagMUSTER collection sites. All Hygain and Mitavite bags are eligible for recycling and carry the PP5 polypropylene symbol. At present, collection sites are primarily located in Victoria, with the network expanding rapidly into other regions. Customers can find the most up-to-date list of bagMUSTER collection locations at https://www.bagmuster.org.au/collection-sites.

Key Achievements

The plastic recycling initiative forms part of Hygain®’s broader sustainability strategy. Since 2019, the company has:

• Solar Energy Production: Installed large-scale solar arrays at our Officer (VIC) facility, generating over 555,000 kWh of renewable energy annually—enough to power more than 90 average Australian homes each year.
• Waste Management: Implemented comprehensive operational waste reduction programs across manufacturing sites, achieving greater than 45% reduction in waste to landfill in 2025 compared with 2024.
• Recycled Plastic Packaging: Introduced packaging containing 30 percent recycled plastic, expected to reduce virgin plastic use by around 118 tonnes each year.
• Cardboard Packaging:  Trialled cardboard packaging solutions to minimise the use of 500 kg polypropylene bags in downstream operations.
• Sustainability Infrastructure: Invested in sustainability infrastructure for internal operations, predicted to eliminate a further 12.7 tonnes of plastic annually.
• Emissions Reduction: Through investments in clean technologies and operational efficiencies, Hygain® has reduced direct emissions across its operations by 42%.
• Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) Membership: Joined the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation as a member, with annual packaging reporting and action plan submissions. Hygain’s performance is rated ‘Leading’ under APCO’s national sustainability framework.

Our Ongoing Commitment

Our partnership with bagMUSTER is the latest step in the company’s long-term commitment to reducing its environmental footprint and supporting more sustainable practices across the equine industry. By continuing to invest in recycling, clean energy and waste reduction, Hygain® is helping to drive positive change for future generations of horse owners.