Page 26 - Packaging News Magazine Sep-Oct 2019

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SUSTAINABILITY www.packagingnews.com.au September-October 2019
Australia leads world in sustainable packaging progress
The Australian packaging industry is one of the most advanced in the world when it comes to sustainable realignment − this was the clear conclusion from
a European tour taken by APCO CEO Brooke Donnelly, PREP design director Anthony Peyton, and Planet Ark CEO Paul Klymenko. Wayne Robinson reports.
AT AN industry briefing hosted by the Australian Packaging Covenant organ- isation (APCO), some 90 packaging
professionals from brands, producers, government, NGOs, and PKN packed a room at Sydney’s Sofitel, and emerged at the end of the evening
mightily encouraged by what they heard. The event also saw the launch of the new APCO logo, with its nod to the circular econ- omy, and had TV personality Jamie Durie in attendance − there to promote his upcoming show Groundswell, which will highlight sus- tainability initiatives. Durie said, “It is a chance for people to share their stories of how they are working towards a sustainable future for us all.” The show will be hitting the
screens next year on a commercial network. Opening proceedings, APCO chair Sam Anderson said that, though relatively small with 17 staff, APCO was achieving great things, “delivering through partner- ships”. She said, “APCO is achieving strong outcomes. Tonight’s presentation should enable us to gain an strong understanding of the latest developments in circular econ-
omy thinking from global leaders.”
First up to present was APCO CEO Brooke Donnelly. She told the audience that the UK
had been her first port of call, where she en- gaged with the Plastics Pact. She said, “From talking to people at the event, listening to presentations, it is clear that the UK and Aus- tralia are the most advanced countries. The UK is six months ahead of Australia in its engagement with single-use plastics.”
According to Donnelly, Australia, with the UK, is way out in front when it comes to measuring progress, while most geogra- phies are “nowhere”.
“Our system is recognised as leading in world terms. We feel under attack, but we should appreciate how advanced we are,” she said.
Donnelly called on the audience not to succumb to a colonial mindset and wait for others to take the lead, but to be confident in their own abilities and decision making.
PREP director Anthony Peyton talked about the visit to Solpack 3.0 in Hamburg, during which the trio had a meeting with the EEC. Peyton took PIDA [Australian Packaging Innovation & Design Award] winning samples to show as examples of how advanced Australian packaging is.
“As we talked and presented the Germans were blown away. They want an APCO. What we are doing in Australia is fantastic,