Shipping & returns
Everything you need to know about delivery fees, delivery times and how we fix things when they go wrong.
Shipping at a glance
Free delivery in South Australia
Orders over $400 to metro and major SA (including the Fleurieu Peninsula and Adelaide Hills) ship free. Under $400, it’s a $65 flat rate, or pick up for free.
Flat rates from $65 Australia-wide
Your flat rate is the maximum you’ll pay for up to 10 cartons. If the real freight cost is lower, we credit you the difference. See how it works
Tracked delivery on every order
You’ll get a tracking number by email as soon as your parcel is dispatched. Delivery takes 1 to 8 business days depending on where you are. See delivery times
Our fair shipping policy
No business wants to pay for shipping. Trust us, we’re the same.
In the packaging world, shipping is driven by volume and weight. The bigger and heavier the order, the more it costs to move.
At Compostable Alternatives we pride ourselves on competitive pricing for better compostable products, and we want shipping to be fair for everyone too. So we set discounted flat rates based on your location.
A capped price
Your flat rate is the maximum you’ll pay for up to 10 cartons.
A credit if it costs less
If actual shipping ends up cheaper than our flat rate, we credit you the difference.
The credit is added to your account and is available on your next order, within 3 months of being issued. Log in with your email to apply it.
No profit on freight
We’re not here to make money on shipping. We check our freight costs every month to keep it that way.
Our flat rates are indicative only, so please don’t let shipping stop you from switching to better packaging.
We’re also happy to
- Quote on a specific order
- Let you organise your preferred shipping provider to collect your order
- Ship to your freight forwarder if you’re in regional or rural Australia
Delivery fees
Updated delivery fees, effective 17 August 2025. All flat rates are exclusive of GST and cover up to 10 cartons.
| Delivery area | Flat rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| South Australia | ||
| Metro & major SA (incl. Fleurieu Peninsula & Adelaide Hills) | Free | Orders over $400 |
| Metro & major SA | $65 | Orders under $400. Free pick up is also available. |
| Rest of SA | $65 | |
| Victoria, New South Wales & ACT | ||
| Metro & major VIC / NSW / ACT | $65 | |
| Rural VIC | $65 | |
| Rural NSW | $150 | |
| Queensland, Western Australia & Northern Territory | ||
| Metro & major QLD / WA | $90 | |
| Regional QLD & NT | $150 | |
| Remote WA, NT & QLD | Quote | Contact us for a quote |
| Tasmania | ||
| All deliveries | $150 | |
Ordering more than 10 cartons?
Larger orders get a customised freight quote.
Rural addresses are charged at the rate above. If your freight cost is significantly higher, we’ll get in touch to talk through options. If you’re somewhere we don’t list, or you want a quote before you order, contact us.
We want freight to never be the deciding factor when choosing sustainable packaging.
Carriers and express post
We deliver Australia-wide using Australia Post, TGE, Cochranes or Courier Please. Express post is available on request at your expense. Some courier services may add extra postage costs, and we’ll tell you straight away if that applies to your order.
Delivery times
| Where | Estimated delivery |
|---|---|
| South Australia | 1 to 3 business days |
| VIC, NSW & ACT | 2 to 5 business days |
| QLD, WA, NT & TAS | 4 to 8 business days |
Business days are Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. Remote and isolated locations, and busy periods, can take longer.
Every effort is made to ship on time, but delivery times can change with supply or circumstances beyond our control. If your order hasn’t arrived after the estimated time, please contact us.
Tracking & receiving your order
Tracking
All orders include a tracking number, emailed to you as soon as your parcel is dispatched. The link takes you to the courier’s website to follow your delivery.
If you see no tracking updates after 72 hours, please contact us.
Delivery address
Unless you tell us otherwise, we deliver to the address on your order confirmation. Any risks and costs from an incorrect delivery address stay with the customer, so please double-check it at checkout.
Ownership and risk
Ownership of the products doesn’t transfer to you until we have received full payment. All risk passes to you when the order is delivered to your chosen address.
By placing an order online or over the phone, you agree to this shipping policy.
Returns & exchanges
By placing an order with us, online or in-store, you agree to this Returns & Exchange Policy. “We”, “us” and “our” refer to Compostable Alternatives, a brand of Close the Loop Solutions Pty Ltd.
We pay return postage when
- The product is faulty
- The product you received is different from the one you ordered
Standard postage only. If you choose express, courier or insurance, we reimburse the portion equal to regular postage.
You pay return postage when
- You ordered the wrong item
- You simply changed your mind
Change of mind or wrong item ordered
If you’re not 100% satisfied with your purchase, or you ordered the wrong item, we accept returns or exchanges within 14 days of the purchase date, provided the items are unused and in their original packaging. Refunds and exchanges are handled in line with the Australian Consumer Law.
What you get back: the product sales value only, as a refund or credit. Original postage costs are not refunded.
Restocking fee: $5 + GST per carton. It applies to change-of-mind returns and when the wrong product was ordered.
Faulty or incorrect products
If your order arrives faulty, or we sent the wrong product, we offer a replacement, a refund or a credit, in line with the Australian Consumer Law. You choose which one you’d like. We also cover the return postage (standard shipping only, see above).
To check your claim, we ask for photos and videos of the issue, and we inspect the goods before a replacement, credit or refund is processed. Contact us to start a claim.
This policy doesn’t limit your rights under the Australian Consumer Law.
Condition of returned goods
Goods must be returned in a condition fit for re-sale, including all packaging and tags. They must be undamaged and have no marks. If an item isn’t returned in “as new” condition, you may not receive a refund or exchange and you’ll pay all return postage.
We only accept complete cartons with no items missing.
How to pack your return
Stick your new shipping label on top of the previous one.
Please do not
- Write on the box
- Cut the box
- Open and reseal the box
How to return a purchase
- Prepare the box as described in “How to pack your return”.
- Post it to us. Once we receive it and confirm it’s suitable for resale, we process your exchange or refund.
- Get your refund. Refunds are paid by bank transfer. We’ll notify you once it’s processed.
Remote area postal charges and optional postage extras are non-refundable.
Return address
Compostable Alternatives / BAM Fulfillment
Gate 5/15 Smith St
Thebarton SA 5031
Questions? Talk to us
Need a quote on a specific order, a pick up, or a hand with your freight forwarder? Get in touch before you order and we’ll sort it out.