ANZPAC Plastics Pact

The ANZPAC Plastics Pact (ANZPAC) is a collaborative solution that brings together key players behind a shared vision of a circular economy for plastic, in which it never becomes waste or pollution.

Covering Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, ANZPAC is the first Plastics Pact in the Oceania region and the second regional Plastics Pact to become part of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s global Plastics Pact network. With Pacts in Africa, Europe, North America and South America, this network is a globally aligned response to plastic waste and pollution.

With over 100 Member organisations working together from across all three geographies and covering the entire plastics value chain, ANZPAC and its Members are committed to achieving four ambitious and concrete Regional Plastics Targets by 2025. 

Why do we need ANZPAC?

No plastic should end up in landfill or our region’s natural environments. By 2040, if we fail to act, the volume of plastic on the market will double, the annual volume of plastic entering the ocean will almost triple, and ocean plastic stocks will quadruple.

Stakeholders across the supply chain are united in agreement that change is critical. Programs to address plastic pollution are being rolled out by state, national and local governments, community groups and NGOs, along with a diverse group of businesses and industry associations. While current momentum and action on the issue is admirable, there is a great risk that the present disparate response will lead to duplication and wasted resources, and ultimately an inconsistent and less effective approach. 

To deliver meaningful change on plastic pollution, our region needs a significant intervention that coordinates and unites all stakeholders behind a clear and consistent approach. ANZPAC provides this framework. 

What is ANZPAC delivering? 

Plastic waste is an international challenge. The Plastics Pact network is a globally aligned response to plastic waste and pollution that enables vital knowledge sharing and co-ordinated action. Each Pact brings together businesses, policymakers, and NGOs around the world who, through shared ambition, combined expertise and collaboration, create regional and national solutions to plastic waste and pollution.

As a region, we need to eliminate problematic plastic packaging, increase effective recycling, drive innovation and create end-markets for recycled materials. As a pre-competitive collaborative platform, ANZPAC and its Members are fundamentally transforming the region’s response to plastic by working towards the common vision of a circular economy for plastics, where it never becomes waste or pollution.

How will ANZPAC achieve this?

• Coordinate and align all stakeholders to support and work towards a clear and consistent vision.
• Work collaboratively towards national, local and regional 2025 targets. The four ANZPAC Regional Plastics Targets are:
  • Eliminate unnecessary and problematic plastic packaging through redesign, innovation and alternative (reuse) delivery models
  • 100% of plastic packaging to be reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging
  • Increase plastic packaging collected and effectively recycled by at least 25% for each geography within the ANZPAC region
  • Average of 25% recycled content in plastic packaging across the region
• Build a clearly defined roadmap for how the region will reach them.
• Measure and communicate progress through annual Member and Pact reporting.
• Co-design and implement pioneer initiatives, activities and solutions across the region.
• Share knowledge and experiences, and learn from regional, national and global experts.

Who will oversee the delivery of ANZPAC?

APCO has worked closely with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (the Foundation) and WRAP UK to develop ANZPAC. Having launched numerous Pacts already, the two organisations have brought extensive expertise to the development process and support when consulting with local stakeholders in the Pacific Islands and New Zealand.

In 2020, APCO worked closely with our partner organisations and stakeholders from across the plastic value chain to develop the program for our market. The ANZPAC Plastics Pact Team spoke with more than 300 individuals and organisations across the region, through workshops, groups and one-to-one meetings, to determine the plastic packaging problems that are most important to stakeholders in our region.

In 2021, ANZPAC co-designed and launched the ANZPAC program throughout the region, drawing on the expertise of local delivery champions. The Foundation continues to support ANZPAC in an advisory role, including annual reporting alignment across the global Plastics Pact network, while ANZPAC Member reports provide valuable data and learnings from across the region. Data collected through ANZPAC Member Reports will be collated and reported on as a region in the annual ANZPAC Progress Report, tracking progress towards the ANZPAC Regional Plastics Targets, identifying gaps and opportunities for future collective action, and highlighting regional best practices.

To ensure the whole region has an active voice in shaping and governing ANZPAC, a senior steering committee of industry experts has been established to oversee the program. The ANZPAC Collective Action Group (ACAG) is a team of leading industry, government and civil society representatives from across the supply chain in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. ACAG Members are highly experienced, committed to achieving positive environmental outcomes and willing to collaborate.

How do I join ANZPAC?

The ANZPAC Plastics Pact is always open to new Members. More information on Membership and access to the application form is available here.

ANZPAC has two Membership categories:

1. ANZPAC Member - for brand owners, retailers, manufacturers and businesses throughout the plastics supply chain.
2. ANZPAC Supporter Member – for government, academia, community groups, NGOs and industry association organisations.

For more information about ANZPAC and to find out how to join, visit the ANZPAC website here, or get in touch with the ANZPAC Team.

If you have any questions, or would like more information, please get in touch via ANZPAC@apco.org.au or visit the ANZPAC website here.