APCO Launches Action Plan to Phase Out PFAS
Tuesday 27 September 2022
The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation has today published the ‘Action Plan to Phase Out PFAS in Fibre-Based food Contact Packaging’. This new resource outlines a national, industry-led approach to phasing out per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in fibre-based food contact packaging by 31 December 2023.
The action plan is based on the 2021 APCO-led and Planet Ark supported study, PFAS in Fibre-based Packaging, and is designed to support businesses with the process of identifying PFAS in fibre-based food contact packaging and a pathway to phase it out.
The action plan supports the implementation of the National PFAS Position Statement agreed to by all Australian governments in 2018 and the achievement of the 2025 National Packaging Targets, including the target for 100% of packaging to be reusable, recyclable or compostable and the phase out of problematic and unnecessary single-use plastic packaging by 2025.
The properties of PFAS, as substances resistant to heat, stains, grease and water, make it useful for a range of applications, including some food contact packaging. When used in compostable packaging, PFAS poses specific challenges to organic waste streams.
This action plan will help ensure that the presence of PFAS does not become a barrier to realising the potential of compostable food contact packaging to support the greater recovery of food waste.
The action plan includes:
· A guide on how to test for total organic fluorine (TOF) which is indicative of PFAS.
· A step-by-step outline of how to report on the PFAS present in fibre-based food contact packaging.
· Considerations for selecting alternatives.
Chris Foley, CEO, APCO commented: “The release of the PFAS Action Plan highlights our commitment as an industry to understand the knowledge gaps around substances like PFAS and to come up with collaborative solutions.
“For the phase out of PFAS to be successful, industry support is critical to encourage businesses to adopt the framework outlined in the action plan and ensure they have access to the information they need in identifying the presence of PFAS in their products and a pathway to successfully phase them out.”
APCO is looking to explore opportunities to address the challenges around recycled content and PFAS to understand where complexities and irregularities exist and continue engagement with governments and industry on future actions.
The Federal government supports the nationally consistent approach for actions to reduce or phase out PFAS, so that industry, businesses, manufacturers, regulators or policymakers can work towards an agreed and clear set of objectives.
The full action plan is available to download here and can be accessed on the APCO website.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
MEDIA CONTACT
Lucinda Adler-Ryan
0421 907 131
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.
For more information about APCO visit: www.apco.org.au.