New action on unnecessary plastic packaging  

The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) has published the APCO Action Plan for Problematic and Unnecessary Single-Use Plastic Packaging, designed to help Australia’s...

The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) has published the APCO Action Plan for Problematic and Unnecessary Single-Use Plastic Packaging, designed to help Australia’s packaging supply chain phase out problematic and unnecessary single-use plastic packaging through innovative and sustainable solutions.    The action plan will help drive the necessary change at each step of the packaging supply chain...

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NEWSFLASH – SA Government seeking urgent input on the single-use plastic legislation

Green Industries SA (GISA) are urgently seeking South Australian business input via a survey designed to benchmark awareness and...

Green Industries SA (GISA) are urgently seeking South Australian business input via a survey designed to benchmark awareness and knowledge of the single-use plastic legislation. South Australian businesses, especially those in food and hospitality, should take notice and contribute their feedback as this legislation will affect your business. Businesses can be...

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Retail applauds Woolworths ground-breaking sustainability targets

Woolworths, one of Australia's most popular supermarket chains, has announced that it will commit to source 100% of its...

Woolworths, one of Australia's most popular supermarket chains, has announced that it will commit to source 100% of its electricity from wind and solar by 2025. Peak retail body, the National Retail Association (NRA), has applauded Woolworths Group for its 2025 Sustainability Plan released yesterday which sets ground-breaking targets encompassing...

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Long anticipated WA Containers for Change launches today

The National Retail Association (NRA) is celebrating the launch of the WA Containers for Change scheme today.  The new container deposit scheme...

The National Retail Association (NRA) is celebrating the launch of the WA Containers for Change scheme today.  The new container deposit scheme aims to reduce litter, improve recycling rates and the create new business and employment opportunities across the state. In Western Australia, easily recyclable beverage containers, such as glass, aluminum and plastic, account for 44 per cent of all...

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Two years on and industry is excelling in adopting the Australasian Recycling Label

A recent independent national audit by the Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR) found that after only two years, 23%...

A recent independent national audit by the Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR) found that after only two years, 23% of products on supermarket shelves contained the ARL. The National Retail Association commends industry for their ongoing efforts to implement the ARL program and celebrates these tremendous results. Brooke Donnelly, CEO,...

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Retailers support SA plastics ban but more time and support needed

The National Retail Association (NRA) commends the South Australian government for its action on single-use plastics, but insists more...

The National Retail Association (NRA) commends the South Australian government for its action on single-use plastics, but insists more time and support is needed to help businesses to prepare and comply. South Australia is the first state to ban single-use plastic items such as straws, cutlery, stirrers as well as...

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National Retail Association applauds transformative recycling and waste reduction framework

The National Retail Association (NRA) heralds the introduction of the Recycling and Waste Reduction Bill 2020 as a transformative...

The National Retail Association (NRA) heralds the introduction of the Recycling and Waste Reduction Bill 2020 as a transformative leap into a new era of efficient, effective and sustainable waste management. The new framework, spearheaded by Environment Minister Sussan Ley, and Assistant Environment Minister Trevor Evans, will position Australia as...

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ACT to ban single-use cutlery, stirrers & EPS foodware in mid 2021

The ACT Government has submitted an Exposure Draft of the Plastic Reduction Bill 2020 was tabled in the ACT...

The ACT Government has submitted an Exposure Draft of the Plastic Reduction Bill 2020 was tabled in the ACT Legislative Assembly today and, if passed, will likely come into effect July 2021. “The phase out will begin from July 2021, banning the sale and supply of single-use plastic cutlery, stirrers...

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QLD single-use plastics ban submitted to Parliament with broad public support

The Queensland Government has submitted the Waste Reduction and Recycling (Plastic Items) Amendment Bill 2020 to Parliament and, if...

The Queensland Government has submitted the Waste Reduction and Recycling (Plastic Items) Amendment Bill 2020 to Parliament and, if passed, will likely come into effect sometime in 2021. Queensland and interstate retailers, especially those that sell food and beverages, should familiarise themselves with the proposed changes or contact the National...

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Industry & community groups combine to support ban on EPS foodware

The National Retail Association plus industry and community groups have contacted the Queensland Government today to express their support...

The National Retail Association plus industry and community groups have contacted the Queensland Government today to express their support for a ban on expanded polystyrene (EPS) foodware. Members of the QLD Stakeholder Advisory Group on the proposed single-use plastics ban, have written a joint letter recommending that EPS takeaway cups,...

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APCO June sustainability webinar series

The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation has today released the June schedule for its highly successful Weekly Community Webinar series....

The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation has today released the June schedule for its highly successful Weekly Community Webinar series. Launched in March, the webinars are designed to bring together professionals across the business, government and environmental communities and help the sustainable packaging community stay connected during lockdown. To date the...

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SA to ban single-use plastic straws, cutlery, stirrers & EPS foodware

The Single-use and Other Plastic Products (Waste Avoidance) Bill 2020 was introduced to Parliament on 30 April 2020. This...

The Single-use and Other Plastic Products (Waste Avoidance) Bill 2020 was introduced to Parliament on 30 April 2020. This Bill prohibits the sale, supply and distribution of certain single-use plastic products and establishes a framework for adding other products in the future. Key elements of the proposed legislation include: Single-use...

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APCO launches weekly sustainability webinar series

The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation has launched a new sustainability webinar series to help industry professionals stay connected. The weekly...

The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation has launched a new sustainability webinar series to help industry professionals stay connected. The weekly APCO Community Meeting events are designed to bring together sustainability experts from across the business, government and environmental communities to explore a range of sustainability ideas. These include packaging specific...

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WA Containers for Change Announces Scheme Pricing

The WA Containers for Change pricing scheme for first responsible suppliers (beverage manufacturers) has now been announced. Set to...

The WA Containers for Change pricing scheme for first responsible suppliers (beverage manufacturers) has now been announced. Set to commence operation on 2 June 2020, Containers for Change will provide a 10-cent refund for each eligible container returned for recycling at an approved Containers for Change Refund Point. The...

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Circular economy explained – 3 day masterclass

"Circular economy" - it's a term that we're all hearing at the moment - from state-wide bag bans to...

"Circular economy" - it's a term that we're all hearing at the moment - from state-wide bag bans to discussions about stewardship and responsibility at a senior management level. The circular economy is an economic, performance-based model which is viewed globally as a new competitive imperative creating cost savings, reducing...

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NSW Container Deposit Scheme: Retailer Obligations

The NSW Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has updated their retailer obligations for the Container Deposit Scheme. The Director of...

The NSW Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has updated their retailer obligations for the Container Deposit Scheme. The Director of CDS Policy & Compliance has recently written to clarify retailer obligations under the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001, to advise some ways retailers can comply with these obligations,...

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