APCO launches new strategy to provide clear and consistent national approach to compostable packaging

17 June 2021

APCO, in partnership with ABA and AORA, have today published National Compostable Packaging Strategy, a comprehensive new approach to how Australia can develop an environmentally sustainable system for compostable packaging.

With the deadline for the 2025 National Packaging Targets fast approaching, businesses and retailers have shown a growing interest in compostable packaging as a potential solution to their packaging waste. Today’s new strategy unpacks the opportunities and risks this presents, and outlines what changes are required to build a sustainable system for compostable packaging that will support Australia to meet the 2025 National Packaging Targets.

Issues explored by the strategy include how and where compostable packaging should be applied, how it can support the recovery of food waste, and how to ensure compostable packaging is recovered at end-of-life and has beneficial end uses. It also highlights problematic materials that are being phased-out, including oxo-degradable or fragmentable plastics.

Key challenges for compostable packaging are also outlined, including limited collection and processing facilities, market confusion and misinformation, and the inability of users and organics recyclers to easily identify and distinguish compostable from non-compostable packaging. It then sets out the systemic changes that are required across the complete packaging lifecycle – including at the design, collection, and recycling phases - in order to overcome them. These include continued innovation to improve the functionality of compostable packaging, and the ongoing national rollout of FOGO services to households and food collection services to businesses to ensure that these valuable materials can be recovered, rather than lost in landfills. Investments in packaging design, recovery infrastructure and education are also called out as essential steps to ensure that compostable packaging achieves its potential to generate environmental and commercial benefits.  

Brooke Donnelly, CEO, APCO commented: “Compostable packaging is one of the solutions available to businesses looking to meet the 2025 National Packaging Targets, but we know that it is a market that is causing real confusion, for both industry and end consumers. With more and more businesses looking to do the right thing and meet the 2025 Targets, it is critical that they receive accurate and consistent information about compostable packaging. We also need to ensure that the critical processes and infrastructure are in place to collect it and process it. We are delighted to launch this new strategy today with the two leading industry associations, to set a consistent and comprehensive national approach to compostable packaging that’s both good for business and good for the environment”.

Approximately 11,000 tonnes of packaging placed on the Australian market in 2018–19 were certified compostable plastic or fibre. APCO tracks the volume of compostable packaging placed on the Australian market through its annual Materials Flow Analysis report (Australian Packaging Consumption and Recycling Data 2018-19). Compostable packaging was also an area of focus in APCO’s 2018/19 Working Groups, established to investigate problematic packaging formats.

National Compostable Packaging Strategy will officially launch at the AORA annual conference on June 17. The full report is available to download on the APCO website https://apco.org.au/resources.

APCO has a number of resources available to support businesses to improve their packaging, including ‘Considerations for Compostable Plastic Packaging’, a practical guideline to help businesses make informed choices when considering the use of compostable packaging.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

MEDIA CONTACT

Alex Whitaker: alex@horizoncg.com.au / 0423410353

ABOUT NATIONAL COMPOSTABLE PACKAGING STRATEGY

National Compostable Packaging Strategy launched on 17 June at the AORA annual conference. It was developed to provide a clear and consistent national approach for compostable packaging in Australia, including direction on how and where it should be used, how it can support the recovery of food waste, and how to ensure compostable packaging is recovered at end-of-life and has beneficial end uses. National Compostable Packaging Strategy was developed by the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), the Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA) and the Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA) in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders from industry and government.

ABOUT AUSTRALIAN PACKAGING COVENANT ORGANISATION

The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is the agency charged by government to make all packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025. To achieve this goal, APCO is working closely with government and industry to deliver a range of sustainable design, recycling, waste to landfill reduction and circular economy projects. Recognised as one of Australia’s leading product stewardship organisations with a strong national and global collaborative network, APCO is committed to reducing the environmental impact of packaging on Australian communities by moving towards a circular economy.

Further information: www.apco.org.au.