BioPak has backed , calling for government support on education, infrastructure and implementation to help businesses adapt to the state’s plastics reforms.
The packaging company says the focus must now turn to helping businesses understand the changing requirements and establish reuse systems that work for their operations.
Its response follows the passing of NSW plastics reforms, which include requirements to accept clean reusable takeaway cups from 2028 and government reuse trials expected to begin as early as 2027.
BioPak chief sustainability officer and Huskee founder Saxon Wright said regulation could create momentum, but businesses needed practical support to participate.
“The direction towards reuse is clear. The challenge now is making it practical and accessible for the businesses and communities being asked to participate.”
Wright said education would be critical in explaining businesses’ obligations, the options available and how they could begin preparing.
Making reuse work operationally
Wright said the transition did not necessarily have to bring higher costs or greater complexity.
“As a business owner myself, I understand the need for solutions that are practical, commercially viable and easy to implement. Reuse shouldn’t be an administrative headache or something only large businesses can afford to get behind.”
BioPak says reuse requires consideration of the full system: how products are supplied and served, where they are returned, how they are collected and washed, and how the process works for staff and customers.
Through Huskee and Borrow by Huskee, the company offers reusable cups and return systems that businesses can integrate into their operations.
“There isn’t going to be one reuse model that works everywhere,” Wright said.
“A café, a stadium and an entire city precinct all have very different operational needs. Successful reuse comes from designing the right system around the people who actually have to use it.”
Shared infrastructure
BioPak sees an opportunity for Sydney to demonstrate reuse at scale through precinct and government trials. The company says it hopes to work with the City of Sydney on infrastructure that makes cup use and return straightforward for businesses and the community.
“Precinct-based reuse is particularly exciting because it takes the responsibility away from individual businesses trying to solve this challenge alone,” Wright said.
“When infrastructure is shared and reuse becomes part of how a precinct operates, we have a much greater opportunity to make returning and reusing packaging an everyday behaviour.”
BioPak says the regulatory changes reinforce its focus on reusable packaging, including growing the role of Huskee. It is calling for collaboration between government, industry, businesses and communities to support the transition.
