The Australian Packaging Covenant (APC) will be updated with a new five-year plan backed by environment ministers.
In a meeting on Friday, the National Environment Protection Council discussed the importance of reducing packaging waste and welcomed the plan.
Trish Hyde, who stepped up as APC CEO in April this year, told PKN there had been three similar plans prior to this one in the Covenant's history, but she believed this was the first to actively involve members.
“We believed involving our membership would make a real difference to industry and environment, so we held a series of workshops in October to enable them to be part of the strategy,” she said.
“This isn't a 'like it or lump it' strategic plan – it's a collaboration which involves members sharing what they value, their ambitions and goals, and how the APC can help.”
Hyde said the workshops were “fantastic”, with a pleasing number of members able to participate.
Hyde said the plan would deliver more efficient use of resources through a whole-of-life approach; ensure less waste is sent to landfill; and empower companies to embed sustainability into their businesses.
“The challenge is in giving these businesses a competitive advantage in the long term, which means engaging with them and helping them gain momentum,” she said.
“The ACP awards were a great example of businesses who've already built in a competitive advantage.
“There's a business strategy at the core of their sustainability endeavours.”
Global perspectives
In terms of allowing the learnings of other countries to shape the APC's plan, Hyde is confident much can be gained from sharing information with each other.
“No one person can create a circular economy - there needs to be a sustainable chain," she said.
“We still have a way to go, and there are unique challenges because of our geography – but it hasn't stopped us in the past.
“Our imagination is our only limitation.”
Speaking of imagination, one project capturing the APC's attention is coffee cups – and finding more ways to prevent them going to landfill.
“If we can all do something to solve the problem through collaboration, then we will see habits shift.”
Hyde is passionate about what the APC does, and her “big, hairy, audacious goal”, as she puts it, is to see Australia noticed for all it's able to achieve.
“I'd love to see Australia recognised globally for the work we're doing, and celebrated for our ingenuity,” she said.
“And there's every chance of that.”
The plan will commence in January 2017, and will officially be launched to members on Thursday 8 December.
