The federal government’s announcement this week of the development a national framework for recycled content traceability, and $60m in funding for hard-to-recycle plastics, has been welcomed by the AFGC – the peak body for Australia’s $134bn food and grocery sector.
Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is developing a national framework for recycled content traceability to guide businesses in recycled content supply chains to improve the traceability of their materials. The proposed framework sets out to guide participants on what data to collect and share, support national harmonisation, enable government to set expectations for traceability consistently.
Under the ambit of the Recycling Modernisation Fund, the government has also launched a Plastics Technology stream, open for applications from 18 July to 13 November, with a funding tag of $60 million.
The aim is to promote collaboration across supply chains, while significantly increasing recycling and recovery rates of hard-to recycle plastics, thus building confidence to invest in recycling infrastructure.
Eligible initiatives include advanced recycling projects targeting hard-to-recycle plastics; commercialisation or scaling-up of emerging and trial technology; technology to extract plastics from products (eg e-waste); equipment for existing or new material or plastic recovery facilities; and end-to-end solutions for the plastics supply chain.
Grants are between $1-20 million, and the applier must contribute at least half of project costs.
AFGC responds
These latest steps, announced on 18 July by Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek, will boost the ability of food and grocery companies to use recycled materials in packaging, according to the Australian Food & Grocery Council (AFGC).
“Food and grocery manufacturers want to use more recycled packaging content, including food-grade recycled plastics, in their packaging to increase sustainability while maintaining the quality and safety consumers expect,” Barden said.
“The AFGC is developing the National Plastics Recycling Scheme (NPRS) to keep soft plastic packaging out of landfill and to recycle that packaging into new, food-grade material.
“This funding will support the development of a new re-manufacturing industry for packaging through investment in advanced recycling technologies, including those that turn plastic back into oil for reuse in food-grade packaging. Such technology is currently the missing part in the supply chain and is central to the NPRS as a sustainable solution for soft plastic packaging, developed by the AFGC with major brands.”
Barden says traceability standards are also essential to reduce the use of virgin materials, noting that the AFGC has called for a nationally consistent framework for recycled packaging content. She says this move helps all parts of the supply chain to have confidence.
According to Barden, Australia’s food and grocery industry is undertaking significant work to improve rates of recyclability and recycling on all packaging. “Momentum is building and the AFGC welcomes the vital support being shown with these government initiatives.”
