Page 8 - Packaging News magazine Jul-Aug 2021

8 NEWS | www.packagingnews.com.au | July-August 2021
Mixed plastic export ban comes into effect
THE federal government’s ban on the export of mixed plastic waste has come into effect, with industry leaders confirming support for a staged series of export bans that will see the transformation of Australia’s recycling industry.
This stage of the ban will end the export of 75,000 tonnes of baled mixed plastic each year,
with further bans to come into play down the track.
Major organisations that have come out in support of the ban include Cleanaway, Pact Group and the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR).
“This is about taking respon- sibility for our waste, creating economic opportunity and
Baled ban: No more mixed plastics exports from Australia.
helping our environment,” Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said.
The government has been consulting widely with indus- try and is investing with state and territory governments and businesses to grow domestic capacity.
According to Ley, recent sur- veys identify there is already annual spare capacity of just over 160,000 tonnes at 52 of Australia’s plastics processing facilities to meet this demand, and that capacity is growing.
Assistant minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management, Trevor Evans, said as the staged export ban comes into place the government is already driving new markets for recycled material by investing in new technologies, industry- led product stewardship
schemes and sustainable pro- curement strategies.
Gayle Sloan, CEO of WMMR, said: “Industry supports these bans and appreciates that gov- ernment at all levels have invested in our industry which would not have happened in the absence of the ban and strong federal government leadership.
“The reality is that these are complicated projects that have development timeframes of one to two years. Industry has already moved considerably and is processing substantially more on shore with funded plans for additional infrastructure in coming months.”
Sanjay Dayal, CEO of Pact Group, added: “Waste export bans coupled with APCO targets requiring brand owners to use recycled plastic back in packag- ing gives industry confidence to invest in local processing infra- structure. We are ready for the regulatory changes which are due to come into effect.” ■
The Group is committed to a circular economy, optimising resources, and closing the loop on its product packaging.
initiative from Coles, which reflects the Morrison govern- ment’s commitments to increase plastic recycling, find alterna- tives to unnecessary plastics, and reduce the impact of plastic on the environment,” said Sussan Ley, federal minister for the Environment. ■
Coles closes loop on packaging
THE Coles Group has released its full sustainability strategy announcing the complete removal of single-use plastics from its shelves and closing the loop by using recycled content on its product packaging.
The Group’s Sustainability Strategy is aligned with the achievement of nine of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including responsible consumption and production, climate action and economic growth.
“Our strategy is focused on acting together now for genera- tions of Australians ahead. We understand our responsibility to
minimise our environmental footprint, and to show leader- ship in protecting our planet and climate,” said Steven Cain, Group CEO.
In terms of packaging, the Group is committed to a circular economy, optimising resources, and closing the loop on its prod- uct packaging. It is also commit- ted to delivering 85 per cent of waste from landfill by 2025, and will continue to focus on reduc- ing food waste.
The Group will also drive the deliver of the 2025 National Packaging Targets, ensuring that all Coles Brand packaging will be 100 per cent recyclable,
reusable or compostable; will be an average of 50 per cent recy- cled content; will carry the Australasian Recycling Label; and that they phase out prob- lematic and unnecessary single- use plastics packaging; all of this by 2025 or earlier.
“It is pleasing to see this