NPCIA accuses government of “analysis paralysis”

The National Packaging Covenant Industry Association (NPCIA) has accused the government of “analysis paralysis”, claiming that by deciding to support further work on two additional options under the Packaging Impacts Consultation, environment ministers have missed an opportunity to provide regulatory certainty and address public concerns about litter.

“Regulatory uncertainty does not foster an environment for commitment. Industry would like to get on with the task of minimising the environmental impacts of all packaging and address the key community concern of litter,” said the CEO of the NPCIA, Stan Moore. “This uncertainty puts at risk the current co-regulatory approach that has been successful over the last 12 years - the Australian Packaging Covenant.”

The Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement (CRIS) showed that the Australian Packaging Covenant (APC) provides a net benefit to the Australian economy, NPCIA said. A commitment to an enhanced co-regulatory model would see the continuation of the APC.

Environment ministers have added three further options in addition to the seven considered in the CRIS, including another container deposit scheme.

“More work will be put into an outdated model which, by the government’s own analysis, costs more than the benefits it provides,” said Moore. “This is resulting in a drawn-out, expensive process.

“Instead of following procedure and eliminating options for consideration, Ministers have only added to further deliberation on this matter, resulting in analysis paralysis.

“The strength of the co-regulatory Australian Packaging Covenant is that it manages all types of packaging materials, rather than focusing on the collection of a limited amount of packaging,” Moore continued. “The APC brings together the whole packaging supply chain to bring about positive change and is the most effective way of addressing public concerns about litter.”

The NPCIA claims a co-regulatory model will produce the best outcomes for packaging recycling and litter reduction in Australia.