Page 76 - Packaging News Magazine Nov-Dec2020

76 PROFILE | PKN 60 YEARS SPECIAL
Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation
As we continue to navigate this tumultuous year and its numerous unexpected challenges, it’s impor- tant to find time to take stock of
all that has been achieved. In the face of circumstances none of us could have pre- dicted as 2020 began, the Australian pack- aging industry has continued to deliver strong results as we progress towards achieving the 2025 National Packaging Targets.
Many businesses have announced sig- nificant new initiatives and innovative tech- nological developments over the past year, often with the express intention to address one of the core issues highlighted in the 2025 Targets. The way the industry has ral- lied together in the face of adversity and con- tinued to prioritise the sustainability agenda is testament to their commitment to deliver a vibrant and strong future for sustainable packaging in Australia.
Below is an overview of APCO’s ongoing efforts to build a circular economy for pack- aging in Australia.
Launching the 2025 Monitoring Program
A primary focus in 2021 will be the roll out of the 2025 National Packaging Targets Monitoring Program, the new measurement program that enables Australia to track and monitor the successful delivery of the 2025 Targets. Announced during the Australian Institute of Packaging’s Australasian Packaging Conference, the Program high- lights the seven critical areas of focus, along- side a series of staged KPIs and milestones, across the packaging value chain that Australia must deliver, in order for the 2025 Targets to be realised.
Two years on from its launch the ARL Program has much to celebrate, with more than 460 businesses now signed up.”
APCO’s FY21 Priority Projects
Our program of FY21 Priority Projects is well underway and progressing well. The series of dedicated projects have been co-designed with our community of working groups to address systemic challenges and drive action in the fol- lowing key areas: reuse, recycling, recycled con- tent, composting, single-use and unnecessary and problematic plastic packaging phase out.
Some of the initiatives we will unveil in the next year include:
• A reuse resource and case study analysis
to support industry with the implementation
of reuse systems;
◆ A range of new industry best practice design
guidelines covering soft plastic, rigid PP, rigid HDPE, fibre-based packaging/PCPB, and problematic small items;
• New research and projects to map and plan effective strategies to increase recovery or reduce use of soft plastics; and
• The new Pledge Project, which calls on organ- isations from the packaging supply chain to publicly pledge the volumes of specific mate- rials that they will transition from virgin materi- als to recycled content.
Update on the ARL Program
Two years on from its launch the ARL Program has much to celebrate, with more than 460 businesses now signed up amid overwhelming support from both govern- ment and industry.
In August, a report developed by the Australian Council of Recycling found nearly a quarter of products in their test sample contained the ARL – an incredible achieve- ment within a short time frame. Meanwhile in October, we launched Check It! Before You Chuck It, a new campaign designed to build awareness of the ARL and promote better recycling behaviours.
In 2021, we will roll out the next iteration of the label, which will expand to encompass recycled content and reuse.
Celebrating industry leadership
In November we are looking forward to again celebrating (virtually) the industry high achievers that are leading the way in sus- tainable packaging design and innovation at the APCO annual awards. This year we will introduce the new Our Packaging Future Awards, which will highlight innovation and leadership from members in areas of sus- tainable packaging education, improved col- lection and recycling systems, and end-mar- ket development.
LEFT: From the Check It! Before You Chuck It campaign
ABOVE: Brooke Donnelly, APCO CEO
www.packagingnews.com.au | November–December 2020