Industry and government take action on packaging

The Collective Action Group (CAG), a team of 12 representatives from across the supply chain and government, recently held its first meeting in Melbourne. The group — which includes Coles, Nestle, Coca Cola Amatil, Planet Ark, Pact Group and the Department of Environment and Science (Qld) — has been tasked with overseeing the progress of Australia’s 2025 National Packaging Targets.

Launched in 2018, the 2025 targets provide a clear mandate to deliver a new sustainable pathway for packaging in Australia.

“The Collective Action Group is putting the targets into action and finding practical solutions to tackle packaging waste,” said Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management Trevor Evans, who officially opened CAG’s first meeting.

In 2019, the primary task for the CAG is to develop a white paper setting out the roadmap for all stakeholders and identifying the critical interventions required to successfully transition Australia to a circular economy for packaging.

Brooke Donnelly, CEO of the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), said: “The formation of the CAG is an exciting milestone in our work towards delivering the targets and it’s fantastic to bring together such a prestigious group of leaders for the task.

“The 2025 National Packaging Targets are some of the most ambitious and decisive environmental targets to be supported in Australia and their delivery requires collaboration from across industry. We applaud all CAG participants and their leading organisations for stepping up as key players in the global movement to create sustainable packaging solutions that drive accountability, transparency and shared value for consumers, industry and government.”

Over the next 12 months, APCO will be delivering an extensive program of projects to drive the delivery of the 2025 National Packaging Targets. These will be facilitated by a team of APCO working groups, comprising nearly 100 participants from industry and government across Australia, which will in turn provide analysis and resources to the overarching CAG.

The projects include comprehensive infrastructure mapping of the current waste and recycling system and a series of models for alternatives; a range of research and trials to better understand compostability; remote and regional waste collection partnerships; phasing out of single-use plastics; and consumer education initiatives to ensure a consistent approach to resource recovery in the packaging streams.