Page 15 - Food & Drink Magazine April 2020

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industry
generates almost $1.3 billion in GVA for the state each year.
A CDS in Victoria will mean a substantial increase to cleaner waste streams ensuring more beverage containers can be recycled and reprocessed onshore, subject to greater investment in infrastructure, such as the previously mentioned projects.
The Australian Beverages Council supports a well- planned CDS for Victoria that is aligned with the other well-run schemes currently operating across Australia. In developing any CDS, efficient schemes that are operated by the beverage industry under a not-for-profit model must continue to be chosen by state governments
as the most effective way
to provide cleaner waste streams for remanufacturing and reprocessing.
At the National Plastics Summit, some stakeholders suggested mandated recycled content targets across all plastic packaging as one way to solve one part of the waste problem while building the market and increasing the value of waste products.
The industry urges caution with mandated targets, and cites overseas examples of the unintended consequences of such ideas. In California for example, a recent bill proposed progressive increases in recycled content targets for beverage containers. While seemingly benign, the proposed legislation overlooked the lack of material available – there is insufficient rPET in the entire United States, let alone the state, to meet the targets.
The Australian Beverages Council continues to strongly
advocate for greater harmonisation among the various CDS, including a common refund mark, deposit amount and list of eligible containers. While the planning for Victoria’s CDS is in the early stages, the drinks industry and other stakeholders must continue to work together to ensure a common sense approach is adopted that works for all stakeholders.
LOOKING AHEAD
Partnerships are the key to solving complex problems. From obesity to sustainable development, governments are looking for collaborative organisations to deliver win-win solutions which align societal and planetary objectives while supporting economic growth.
The drinks industry has a long history of partnering with all levels of governments.
From CDS partnerships with state governments around the country, to
the nation’s first sugar reduction pledge launched in conjunction with the Australian Government, when tough problems require pragmatic and evidence-based solutions, the drinks industry is ready and willing to step up. ✷
✷ ABOUTTHEAUTHOR
Geoff Parker is CEO of the Australian Beverages Council. The council is the peak industry body
representing the
non-alcoholic beverage
industry. Its members
produce more than
95 per cent of the industry’s volume.
www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au | April 2020 | Food&Drink business | 15 FoodAndDrinkBus_Apr 2020_95w x 277h_H&C.indd 1 4/03/2020 1:06:48 PM