Boral: Cementing a place in the Australian construction industry

Known by DIY-ers, industry professionals and infrastructure builders alike, Boral is one of Australia’s most highly regarded building materials suppliers. This month, the local manufacturer has announced the launch of new durable plastic packaging for its concrete and specialty mixes, aimed to improve product protection, usability and supply chain flexibility.

Now celebrating 80 years of local manufacturing, Boral has continually developed its building construction offering to improve how Australians use their products on all projects, big and small. By retaining close relationships with its local customers and user base, new products and packaging have been developed to improve the processes and experiences of their customers.

 The move from traditional paper bags with liners to weather-resistant plastic packaging is a direct response to the conditions of the Australian market, and have been introduced to help protect product integrity during transport, storage and on-site use.

“This transition to durable plastic packaging is focused on improving how our products perform from manufacturing through to the end user,” said Rajeev Ramankutty, Executive General Manager of Cement.

“It helps reduce damage, supports better handling and delivers a more reliable experience for customers. We know our customers and resellers need packaging that can withstand transport, storage and site conditions. This new format provides greater flexibility, reliability and ease of use,” said Ramankutty. 

Beginning with Boral’s concrete and specialty mixes, and mortars, grouts and sand blends, the new packaging rollout aims to not only create ease of use for their end users, but improve the reliability and flexibility on-site. Improved features include being weather-protected, more durable when handling, and even improved usability for non-English speaking users with a new design.

The new plastic packaging rollout aims to create more material efficiency across the supply chain for all users, developed in tandem with Boral’s close relationship with local infrastructure projects, communities and builders. As traditional paper bags are filled through a valve system that can be prone to leakage, this can result in dust generation, product loss and waste over time on a building site. Boral’s new plastic packaging not only protects from waste, but also removes the need to waterproof products in wet-weather conditions, which can also save time on site.

The introduction of durable plastic packaging aligns with Boral’s sustainability commitments, as the new FFS plastic bags are 100% recyclable, supporting circular economy outcomes in construction materials. Further investigation continues into how its packaging can reduce waste and support more sustainable construction practices overall.

Boral’s transition to plastic packaging represents a practical step forward in improving both product performance and sustainability outcomes. The new packaging is fully recyclable at end of life, supporting circularity while reducing product loss caused by moisture and handling damage.

This development is backed by a strong investment into the company’s local manufacturing network. Boral continues to invest in its Australian manufacturing network, including upgrades at its Maldon Cement Works to support the introduction of plastic packaging. This investment strengthens local production capability while enabling more efficient packaging processes and improved product quality outcomes for Australian customers.

Boral has been committed to the Australian manufacturing industry since its inception, with over 7,500 local employees and contractors now found at 360 sites nation-wide, and now delivering 4 million tonnes of cement every year. Manufacturing Boral cement and building products locally means that not only are its products made to Australia’s stringent standards of safety and quality, they are fit specifically for Australia’s unique conditions and needs.

Its building material products continue to be a staple in countless Australian projects, which is a testament to the brand’s reputation and position as a trusted manufacturer. Ordinary Aussies may have encountered Boral products without even knowing it, as the company’s building materials can be found on the surface of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the walls of Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel, the asphalt at Adelaide Airport and Brisbane’s Gateway Bridge and even Perth’s Forrestville Airport Link.

Boral chooses to use the Australian Made logo on its products largely due to the positive associations the logo has in the construction industry.

“In the construction materials industry, Australian Made products are associated with durability, consistency and performance in local conditions,” said Ramankutty. “They also reflect strong quality controls and supply reliability, which are critical for both trade professionals and retail customers.”

“The Australian Made logo provides customers with confidence that Boral products are manufactured locally to recognised quality standards. It reflects Boral’s ongoing investment in Australian manufacturing and its commitment to supporting local industry and supply chains,” said Ramankutty.

As the company proudly displays the green and gold kangaroo logo on its new packaging, Boral’s commitment to the Australian building industry, supporting local jobs and working to innovate its product offering shows no signs of slowing, even eight decades into in the Australian construction landscape.

Learn more at boral.com.au