Member Matters

Food for Thought: Member Matters | October 2024

18 October 2024

The public consultation on new packaging policies is drawing to a close, with submissions due by 28 October. Throughout the process, we have kept members informed and strongly encouraged participation in shaping what could be significant changes for our sector. 

The Federal Government presented three options: keeping current policies, introducing mandatory design standards with packaging bans, or adopting extended producer responsibility. Ministers are unlikely to maintain the status quo, meaning one of the latter options, both of which come with substantial costs and challenges, is the most probable outcome. 

A survey of industry leaders at our Sustainability Summit in September highlighted inconsistent packaging regulations as a key barrier to advancing Australia’s circular economy. We view this reform as a crucial opportunity to harmonise packaging and recycling policies nationwide, preventing a fragmented system that could hinder progress. Similarly, we see the technical side of this reform as vital to mitigating any unintended consequences by considering the whole life cycle of the product.  

The AFGC continues to support mandatory national recycling standards that address material use, infrastructure, and traceability, ensuring effective and consistent recycling processes. We also advocate for government incentives and grants to support the industry’s transition to renewable energy. 

Elsewhere, AFGC will appear at ACCC hearings as part of its investigation of supermarket pricing in early November. We expect a considerable amount of attention to be paid to this inquiry and in the months that follow as the final report is prepared in February. Aligning this with a Federal election early next year, our sector can expect focus on the cost-of -living to continue for some months yet.

SARAH COLLIER
ACTING DIRECTOR – SUSTAINABILITY