Ahead of the long-awaited Queensland Derby tomorrow night, mining giant Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) has orchestrated a sustainability partnership with NRL company, the Brisbane Broncos (ASX:BBL), to reduce plastic waste.
Broncos’ programs will integrate recyclable bottles in the 2026 NRL and NRL Women’s (NRLW) seasons, sourced from Rio Tinto’s aluminium supply with operations around 530km north of Brisbane.
Rio Tinto’s Gladstone operations began in 1967, producing around 3.7 million tonnes of alumina each year. Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) is one of the world’s largest alumina refineries, according to Rio Tinto.
Connected by conveyor belt, alumina is smelted into aluminium at Boyne Smelters Limited (BSL), which has been in operation since 1982 and is Australia’s second-largest aluminium smelter.
The aluminium products will be implemented in high-visibility settings such as coaches’ boxes and media conferences.
Rio Tinto General Manager for Bauxite and Alumina Tim McDougall says the partnership is a key demonstration of how sport can bring materials innovation to life.
“Aluminium is infinitely recyclable and can play an important role in reducing waste,” McDougall said.
“We’re proud to team up with the Brisbane Broncos to showcase how our materials can be used in real-world settings and help reduce plastic waste.
“Sport gives us a powerful platform to inspire change.”
Brisbane Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy says the partnership’s public announcement leading up to the Queensland Derby heightens the significance of this collaboration.
“The XXXX Derby is always about Queensland pride, and this partnership is another great example of that in action,” Donaghy said.
“We’re bringing together a club that represents communities across the state with an organisation that employs and supports regional Queenslanders every day.
“This is about making a real change in how we operate, reducing plastic use and replacing it with something practical, durable, and proudly connected to Queensland.”
The partnership between the Broncos and Rio Tinto is focused on practical action, by embedding more sustainable behaviours across the Broncos’ day-to-day for the public forum to engage with.
Broncos’ hooker and five-eighth Billy Walters and fullback Tamika Upton, who grew up in Rockhampton, Central Queensland, were present to formally kick off the partnership this week.
The Broncos and Rio Tinto will use the XXXX Queensland Derby to demonstrate how sport and industry can work together to deliver practical, community-driven sustainability outcomes.
The XXXX Queensland Derby will kick off at 8pm AEST on 10 April 2026, with the Brisbane Broncos going head-to-head with the North Queensland Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
Mining.com.au will be on the ground at the event tomorrow.
QAL is a joint venture, owned 80% by Rio Tinto and 20% by Rusal, while BSL is a joint venture between Rio Tinto with 73.5%, YKK Aluminium with 9.50%, UACJ Australia with 9.29%, and Southern Cross Aluminium with 7.71%.
Since 2018, QAL has invested more than $480 million through its environmental strategy, developed to improve QAL’s environmental performance, including air quality, odour, noise, employee culture, and land and water management.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: Brisbane Broncos
