Less Waste, Same Bright Light - How Our Packaging Works

Why we chose paper-first packaging

We want the light that lands on your doorstep to leave as little trace as possible. That’s why - unless the product is classed as “oversize” - every Refraction Lighting order is packed in materials that can go straight into your household paper / cardboard recycling bin. No peeling, no sorting, no guessing.

What’s in the box?

Component

What it’s made of

End-of-life path

Key facts

Shipping box (small & medium sizes)

Uncoated B-flute cardboard

Flatten & recycle kerbside or home-compost

100 % Recyclable

Honeycomb wrap (void-fill)

Kraft paper in a cardboard dispenser

Recycle kerbside or home-compost

100 % Recyclable and made from recycled paper

Water-activated tape

Reinforced kraft paper, starch glue

Leave on the box – recycle kerbside

Paper fibres pulped; tiny glass threads are screened out during recycling (industry <1 % contaminant rule)

Shipping label

Paper facestock with EN 13432 / AS 4736-certified compostable adhesive

Recycle kerbside with the box or send the whole parcel to a commercial compost facility

Ecolabels are 100 % plastic-free & industrially compostable

Oversize items (e.g. 1.2 m long aquarium lights) need extra cushioning and may ship in alternative protective packaging. These products won’t display the ♻️ icon on their product pages.


How to recycle your pack

  1. Open your parcel.
  2. Flatten the carton - there’s no need to remove the tape or label.
  3. Drop everything in your paper/cardboard recycling bin.

If you have access to an industrial-compost facility, the entire pack (box plus label) can break down there too.


Spot the ♻️ icon

On every product page you’ll see one of two badges:

  • ♻️ 100 % Kerbside-Recyclable Shipping Packaging – standard-size items that use the materials above.
  • (No icon) – oversize items that require different packaging.

Keeping you informed

The Australian Consumer Law says environmental claims must be truthful, specific and backed by evidence.

  • We avoid loose terms (“green”, “zero-waste”) and state exactly what is recyclable and how to recycle it.
  • Our claims rely on verifiable supplier information (the sources above) and recognised certifications (EN 13432 / AS 4736 for the label).
  • Where a claim doesn’t apply (oversize packs), we say so up-front.

Should the rules tighten, or a component change, we’ll update this page immediately so you always have the latest disposal advice.


Questions or feedback?

We’re always looking for ways to lighten our footprint even further - liner-free labels are next on our radar. If you have suggestions, drop us a line at shop@refraction.lighting. Together we can keep the focus on bright lights, not overflowing bins.

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