In a new report, the Boomerang Alliance is calling for Australia to rapidly increase its use of reusable packaging to reduce plastic pollution and carbon emissions. The report outlines the opportunities that are currently available, particularly for takeaway services, and are in need of government and business support.
The Choosing to Reuse in Australia report outlines a range of ways change can be made. These include at public events, takeaway outlets, supermarkets and shops, and at controlled environments such as workplaces, food courts, festivals, and sports stadiums.
Many Australians already use a BYO coffee cup for takeaway, and an increasing number of businesses also offer reuse cup and food container services, but to make a significant impact, the alliance says these need to be “mainstreamed” via government policies and business practices. The Boomerang Alliance points out that according to the ANZPAC Plastics Guide, a BYO coffee cup has lower carbon emissions than a single-use cup if used at least four times.
“According to the latest UN report, titled Turning off the Tap 2023, global plastic pollution needs to be slashed by 80 per cent by 2040. Refillable bottles, bulk dispensers, deposit return systems and packaging take-back can reduce that pollution by at least 30 per cent,” said Toby Hutcheon, national campaign manager of the Alliance of 55 NGOs.
“Reusable cups and containers offer a new and practical solution to our intractable plastic waste problems. All that is lacking is government policies to encourage uptake and business involvement in changing practices,” said Hutcheon.
The report highlights several findings:
• Australians are the second highest per capita generators of plastic waste in the world
• Australia’s plastic use produces more than 16 million metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually
• Australians use over 1.8 billion single use coffee cups (1.4 billion lids) every year
• Many European countries have banned disposable cups for dine-in and require cafes to also offer reusable cups
• In Europe, reusable cups at sporting events and festivals are now commonplace
Boomerang Alliance says it is calling on the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments to act by:
• Setting a 30 per cent national target for reusable packaging to be achieved by 2030
• Introducing national standards for reusable, compostable and recyclable packaging that ensures all products are collected and recovered in practice
• Banning the use of disposable food ware for customers dining-in
• Requiring all coffee shops selling disposable cups to also offer or sell reusable cups
• Introducing a levy on all disposable cups and containers sold to customers
• Including reusable bottles as eligible for a refund under state container refund schemes
