The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is shining the torch on Australian businesses that are failing to meet their sustainable packaging obligations.
After auditing several thousand businesses with a turnover of more than $5 million, the APCO will then notify them of their need to comply with the sustainable packaging obligations outlined in the National Environmental Protection (Used Packaging Materials) Measure 2011 (NEPM).
The Sustainability Brand Audit aids in the APCO's goal of making packaging 100 per cent reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025.
The target was announced by Australia’s Environment Ministers in April, and the APCO is currently developing a national roadmap for how Australia can deliver on it.
The audit incorporate businesses from a range of sectors, including Food and Beverage, Pharmaceuticals, Printing and Toy and Sporting Goods wholesale.
Businesses liable under the NEPM include any organisation with an annual turnover of $5 million or more, that is either in the supply chain of consumer packaging (e.g. an importer, supplier of raw material, manufacturer or wholesaler) or a retailer.
APCO CEO Brooke Donnelly said reaching the landmark target will require “a complete transformation” of how society thinks about packaging.
“Businesses play a crucial role in making this target a reality,” she said.
“There are a number of basic packaging requirements that all Australian businesses are required to meet – and these are outlined in the National Environmental Protection (Used Packaging Materials) Measure 2011 (NEPM).
“One of our responsibilities is to notify the businesses who aren’t meeting these basic obligations and provide them with the tools, resources and pathways to track and improve their packaging sustainability.”
Additionally, APCO will next week begin a two-month consultation process with APCO members and key stakeholders to better understand what industry requires to bring the target to life.
Next month, the APCO will be hosting Q&A sessions in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne to provide business owners an opportunity to ask questions about the 2025 target.
