The Recycling Leadership Forum (RLF) steps up for the ARL Program in New Zealand

Wednesday 14 May 2025

The Recycling Leadership Forum (RLF) is now responsible for managing New Zealand’s input into the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL), a role previously held by the New Zealand Food and Grocery Council (NZFGC).

In February 2025, stakeholders across the packaging and recycling supply chain, including the NZFGC, recommended the RLF take on the role of leading and coordinating input into the way the ARL works in New Zealand.

The ARL is a system that gives clear disposal instructions on product packaging. It helps consumers recycle correctly and encourages businesses to create packaging that can be easily recycled.

The establishment of the RLF has provided an opportunity for a broad set of sectors and stakeholders to help move this work forward, making it easier to address challenges in applying the ARL in New Zealand.

The Minister for the Environment commended the NZFGC for taking the lead on the ARL’s application in New Zealand in 2021.

New Zealand ARL Program users can be assured that this transition will not impact how they currently engage with or use the ARL. The change is designed to strengthen stakeholder representation and ensure ongoing support for the program in Aotearoa.