Page 21 - Packaging News Nov-Dec 2019

November-December 2019
www.packagingnews.com.au
PEOPLE IN PACKAGING
21
Champion for change
At a time when packaging sustainability is squarely in the spotlight, Brooke Donnelly is consistently outspoken in her efforts to drive Australian manufacturers towards meeting the 2025 National Packaging Targets. Lindy Hughson spoke to her about her passion for the cause and her view on the industry’s future.
lucky enough to witness a genuine commit- ment from both industry and government to improve and achieve the Targets.
It’s been inspiring to witness some of the incredible innovation and creativity displayed by Australians, Australian in- dustry and the willingness of government to respond to what Australian communities are seeking.
2019 MARKS THE ORIGINAL PACKAGING COVENANT’S 20TH YEAR. AS CUSTODIAN
OF THIS IMPORTANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY, HOW DO
YOU THINK IT IS TRACKING AGAINST ITS ORIGINAL INTENTIONS?
The Covenant plays an incredibly impor- tant role for Australian communities, industry, and the government. It is humbling to be the custodian of this work and both myself and the APCO team are honoured to be entrusted with it.
As you would expect with any 20-year- old organisation, the Packaging Covenant has had many challenges over the years.
However, I firmly believe that the Pack- aging Covenant has never been stronger or more aligned in delivering the critical and necessary work required to fundamentally contribute to the shift to the circular econ- omy in Australia.
ARE WE ON TRACK FOR 2025?
Australia is absolutely on track to deliver the 2025 National Packaging Targets. Like all worthwhile work, there will certainly be significant challenges. The plastic issue, for instance, will require a great deal of focus and activity; however, we are in the process of developing exciting solutions with our strategic partners to tackle this.
Looking to work that’s been delivered in
WHEN DID PACKAGING FIRST PIQUE YOUR INTEREST AND HOW DID YOU END UP
AT APCO?
Sustainable packaging has always been a part of my life. As the third generation in a family business that recycles industrial packaging, I grew up hearing it as a regular topic of conversation at our dinner table. I began my career in the family business and learnt the foundations of how to operate recycling facilities for the recov- ery of packaging materials. I also spent time managing the NSW Sustainability business for Visy Industrial Packaging and then took a different approach and moved to Greenpeace as their COO for the Austra- lia Pacific region. More recently, I built on my product stewardship experience at ANZRP and arrived at APCO in early 2017, where I have found the perfect combina- tion of packaging, sustainability and prod- uct stewardship to match my technical knowledge and experience.
YOU’RE LEADER OF THE ORGANISATION CHARGED WITH DELIVERING THE 2025 NATIONAL PACKAGING TARGETS, A BIG ASK BY ANYONE’S STANDARDS. WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF YOUR ROLE? In every challenge there is an opportunity – and there are a great many challenges in
the work that is delivered by APCO. The implementation of the 2025 Targets and the transition to the circular economy is a long term commitment that will not happen overnight. Like any developing system, it will have some wins and some issues that we will need to rethink. It will be impor- tant to ensure that we are making strategic and considered decisions, not just respond- ing to short term impacts and potentially delivering perverse outcomes in a rush to address sectoral issues, rather than systemic ones. Collective problems require collective solutions and I think the most important action we can take is to continue to focus on working together to do better and support the shift to the circular economy.
YOU’VE TRAVELLED FAR AND WIDE THIS YEAR, MET SOME INTERESTING PEOPLE AND ENGAGED IN IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS. WHAT HAVE BEEN THE MAIN HIGHLIGHTS?
It has been a fascinating year. I was lucky enough to travel to Europe to meet with a range of organisations and leaders on the international sustainable packaging scene, including WRAP, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the Plastics Pact Network and the World Circular Economic Forum.
However, the biggest highlight for me came much closer to home, where I’ve been
just over a year, we’ve established a base-
Passionate about packaging: Brooke Donnelly, CEO of APCO, speaks at Print21 + PKN LIVE earlier this year.

line measurement to track and measure
progress. Our critical delivery groups are
in place, in the form of our advisory groups
and the Collective Action Group. Most
importantly, we are almost ready to launch
our 2025 Roadmap in the coming months,
which outlines activity and the required
change for the next phase. It’s a time of
great momentum and activity – so watch
this space. ■