Capital and Mudex commit to eliminating plastic packaging for drilling fluids

Capital Limited (Capital), in partnership with Mudex Drilling Fluids (Mudex), has announced a commitment to phase out plastic containers for drilling fluids across all Capital sites.  In their place, the company will adopt the Enviro Pack Eco Drum™ and Eco Bucket™, innovative and environmentally friendly packaging solutions developed by Mudex.

Currently, 70–80% of plastic waste generated on mineral exploration drill rigs comes from drilling fluid packaging. Although most containers are technically recyclable, less than 0.01% are actually recycled - leaving the vast majority to be disposed in landfill or incinerated.

The Eco Drum™ and Eco Bucket™ represent the mining industry's first viable alternative to traditional plastic containers. These products reduce plastic usage by 95% and are made from FSC-certified and recycled cardboard. After rigorous field testing, they have proven their durability and effectiveness in the demanding conditions of exploration drilling.

At the Africa Down Under conference in 2025, Brian Rudd, founder and Executive Director of Capital Limited, and Dave Williams, Managing Director of Mudex Pty Ltd, discussed the performance of the Enviro Pack products and Mudex’s readiness to scale up production to meet Capital’s needs.

Brian Rudd stated, “With both companies deeply committed to sustainability, this initiative is far more than a box-ticking exercise - it’s a meaningful and lasting step toward reducing waste across all our drilling operations.”

Capital Limited’s commitment enables Enviro Pack to leverage economies of scale, which will help increase production capacity and drive down costs of the Eco Drum™ and Eco Bucket™ over time.

Dave Williams shares: “At Mudex, this initiative is incredibly important to us, without Capital’s support it wouldn’t be possible and we’re proud to be leading the charge toward sustainable solutions in drilling fluids. Establishing Enviro Pack as a standalone entity also opens up broader access to eco-friendly packaging options across the sector, reinforcing our commitment to sustainability.”