With product stewardship a core component of a circular economy, GS1 Australia and the Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence are working together to foster sustainable practices across multiple industries.
GS1 said it is committed to helping its members and beyond transition to a circular economy by using its established global supply chain standards.
GS1 Australia general manager Public Policy & Government Engagement, Peter Carter, said, “Together with the Centre we want to accelerate the transition to a circular economy by providing practical tools and standards that improve and support accurate communication about products, services, places and people, across the entire product supply chain and lifecycle.
There are 85 active national collective stewardship schemes as well as individual business initiatives across 27 product classes.
“There is an enormous opportunity for Australian industry to leverage current supply chain data collection and communication processes to Reduce the use of harmful plastics, improve product and materials recovery and streamline business and regulatory processes,” he said.
Rose Read, Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence director, Rose Read, said, “We welcome the opportunity to partner with GS1 Australia in creating awareness and greater consistency in capturing and sharing product and supply chain data to accelerate the establishment, implementation and effectiveness of product stewardship schemes in Australia.”
Carter said GS1’s product and location registries and global open standards manage information about products and their supply chains.
“Accessing and sharing this information with product stewardship initiatives is critical given Australia’s appetite for imported manufactured goods and our reliance on export trade,” he said.
GS1 Australia is part of a worldwide network, operating in over 118 countries. As a member-based, not-for-profit organisation, our charter is to operate and manage supply chain standards, including barcodes, in accordance with our global GS1 system and to provide related solutions and services to our members, to enhance efficiency. Our standards are used across various sectors, including retail, healthcare and logistics, to streamline operations and support sustainable practices.
The Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence is an independent, not for profit charity, that seeks to advance product stewardship in Australia by working with businesses, governments, and communities to implement and promote best practices that contribute to a circular economy and a sustainable future. The Centre helps businesses, industries and product stewardship organisations to create positive environmental and social outcomes through sustainable design, resource conservation, reuse, repair, and recycling.
