• APCO CEO, Chris Foley will lead member consultation on EPR.
    APCO CEO, Chris Foley will lead member consultation on EPR.
Close×

The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) has opened consultation on a new proposal to support and deliver industry-led Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging, intended to bridge existing gaps in the packaging value chain.

APCO says it welcomes feedback from members and signatories to “ensure this model delivers fees that are fair and reasonable and leads to the best outcomes” for members, the economy and the environment. It says the model is also designed to provide members with the guidance they may need to prepare for regulatory change and make informed decisions.

The consultation is open until midnight AEST on Friday, 16 May 2025. APCO is seeking feedback on the proposals outlined in this Consultation Paper, which include:
• activating APCO’s 2030 Strategic Plan to support and deliver industry-led EPR activity for packaging, managed by APCO to co-ordinate and leverage the benefits of collective action; and
• increasing membership contributions through a new fee model, that establishes a new mechanism for APCO members to co-invest in solutions that drive system impact.

To provide further opportunity for members to explore the proposal and ask questions, APCO will be holding a series of information sessions across the country and online.

The dates for these sessions are as follows:
• Perth – 09 April 2025
• Adelaide – 10 April 2025
• Melbourne – 15 April 2025
• Sydney – 16 April 2025
• Online – 16 April 2025
• Brisbane – 02 May 2025

To support members in reviewing the proposal, APCO has prepared a Consultation Survey. For more information about the consultation and upcoming roadshow you can visit the consultation webpage now.

 

Food & Drink Business

The Central Coast is about to receive a boost to its local food and beverage manufacturing industry, with construction starting on the $17.14 million Food Manufacturing Innovation Hub, funded by the federal government’s National Reconstruction Fund (NFR).

The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) says Australia is at a “critical crossroads” when it comes to R&D and decades of rhetoric have not delivered material change.

New Zealand’s national organisation for the country's grape and wine sector, New Zealand Winegrowers, has released its 2025 Sustainability Report, highlighting the industry’s commitment to environmental preservation and sustainability through its climate change, water, people, soil, waste, and plant protection goals.