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Immediate action required – Removal of REDcycle/’Return to Store’ Labelling from soft plastics

Immediate action required – Removal of REDcycle/’Return to Store’ Labelling from soft plastics

1 July 2025

The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) has issued a critical reminder for all organisations participating in the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) Program: all REDcycle and ‘Return to Store’ labels must be removed from soft plastic packaging. 

This change reflects the closure of the REDcycle program and the absence of an operational national return-to-store collection system. 

Key compliance requirements 

Businesses must act now to: 

  • Cease use of any REDcycle/’Return to Store’ labelling on product packaging, in-store materials and digital platforms. 
  • Ensure all labelling changes are implemented and reflected in-market as soon as possible. 

Legal Risk Under Australian Consumer Law  

Displaying outdated REDcycle labels may mislead consumers and could expose businesses to risk under Australian Consumer Law (ACL). This applies even if the labels appear only in secondary channels such as websites or marketing materials. 

Have Existing Stock with REDcycle Labels Post 1 July 2025? 

If you will hold stock bearing REDcycle/’Return to Store’ labels after 1 July 2025, you must notify APCO’s Compliance Team at arlcompliance@apco.org.au. 

This applies regardless of whether your cut-off is based on production or on-shelf presence. Please provide: 

  • A timeline for when the affected SKUs will be updated 
  • An estimated end date for the availability of impacted stock 

It is strongly recommended to maintain supporting documentation (e.g. print dates, POs, inventory logs) in case of future compliance review. 

REDcycle Transition Survey – Complete by 30 September 2025 

All members who have used REDcycle or ‘Return to Store’ labelling are asked to complete the REDcycle Transition Survey. This will assist APCO in tracking progress and engaging with regulators. All data submitted will be de-identified. 

Questions or support? 

Contact the APCO ARL Team to discuss: arlcompliance@apco.org.au 

Sarah Collier
Director – Sustainability