Submission to the ACCC on Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia

Submission to the ACCC on Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia 

Last week, APCO made its submission to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in response to the recent application from Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia (SPSA). 

SPSA, representing a group of major retailers and brands, has applied to the ACCC seeking authorisation to establish and operate a voluntary product stewardship scheme for soft plastic packaging. APCO recognises the importance of restoring and expanding soft plastic recycling in Australia and supports the intent behind SPSA’s proposal. 

APCO supports the application which is designed to address the collection and sorting of soft plastic which will contribute to the important outcome of keeping soft plastic out of the environment and landfill. APCO’s application incorporates important conditions aimed at ensuring the scheme operates as part of an integrated framework for all packaging under the Australian Packaging Covenant and the National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM) for Used Packaging. This approach helps to minimise duplication, protect system integrity, and align with broader packaging reforms. Leveraging APCO’s existing infrastructure, data systems, and member relationships provides a practical way to support these outcomes while keeping the process as simple as possible for members. 

As part of our submission, APCO and SPSA have provided a joint letter to the ACCC confirming our shared commitment to work together. This includes outlining a proposed two-stage funding approach: 

• Voluntary contributions from participating businesses in FY2026, and 

• A transition to EPR Fees administered through APCO from FY2027 for businesses placing soft plastics on the market. 

We look forward to continuing our work with SPSA to finalise these arrangements in a way that supports members and strengthens Australia’s packaging stewardship framework. 

You can view our submission and the joint communication to the ACCC here.  

We will continue to keep members informed as this process progresses. If you have any questions, please contact us at apco@apco.org.au.