Environment Ministers’ Meeting

24 September 2026

Environment Ministers met on 18 September, with the Australian Local Government Association and New Zealand represented. The meeting focused on a shared national agenda covering environmental protection, nature restoration, climate resilience, and circular economy reform.

For Members, the main outcomes are the agreement on the Circular Economy Roadmap (Roadmap), the next phase of packaging reform under the existing co-regulatory arrangements, including the Used Packaging Materials National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM) and the Australian Packaging Covenant, and the focus on product stewardship and national harmonisation, including soft plastics.

Broader meeting outcomes

Ministers also agreed to accelerate bilateral assessment and approval agreements following reforms to national environment laws, with new or updated agreements targeted for mid-2027. They agreed to develop a National Nature Restoration Framework, improve access to biodiversity data, and develop advice on climate refugia and species most at risk from climate change. Ministers also discussed ongoing wildlife resilience work in response to H5 avian influenza.

Packaging reform

Ministers did not agree to introduce a new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) or new standalone packaging regulation. Instead, packaging reform remains an urgent priority, with officials asked to work with industry, local government and other stakeholders on options to strengthen the existing co-regulatory arrangements and develop a future packaging reform plan. The work will consider both environmental outcomes and cost impacts and will return to the next Environment Ministers’ Meeting.

The immediate focus is on the Used Packaging Materials NEPM and the Australian Packaging Covenant. The Roadmap identifies recyclable design, recovery and recycled content outcomes, liability thresholds, labelling, and stronger monitoring and enforcement as areas for further work.

The Roadmap also proposes examining the Commonwealth Design Framework as a nationally harmonised approach to packaging recyclability and design, supported by further cost-benefit analysis and modelling. Future changes may include legislative amendments and additional reform through the National Competition Policy process. The final regulatory model is yet to be determined.

Product stewardship and soft plastics

Product stewardship is one of the Roadmap’s four core action areas. The policy direction is towards greater responsibility for design, recovery and end-of-life outcomes, with more consistent approaches across jurisdictions.

Soft plastics has been identified as an initial priority for national, state and territory harmonisation work, alongside batteries and solar panels. This is significant for members because it places soft plastics within the first group of product stewardship and harmonisation issues to be progressed with industry and reported back to the next Environment Ministers’ Meeting.

The Roadmap also points to a longer-term focus on mandatory product stewardship for priority products, with progress to be evaluated as reforms are implemented.

More about the Circular Economy Roadmap

Ministers agreed on the Roadmap as the basis for coordinated action across jurisdictions. It sets an ambition to double Australia’s circularity by 2035 and links circular economy reform to productivity, material efficiency and stronger domestic supply chains.

The supporting goals are to reduce Australia’s material footprint by 10 per cent, increase material value through reuse by 30 per cent, and safely recover 80 per cent of resources.

The Roadmap is structured around three phases:

• Respond, next six months: agree priorities, identify immediate actions and use existing policy settings.
• Reform, next two years: implement agreed reform plans across the priority areas.
• Embed, through to 2035: establish mature circular economy systems and deliver against the shared goals.

The four areas for collective action are product stewardship, infrastructure, markets and harmonisation. A central theme is greater national alignment, as inconsistent requirements affect investment, market development, material recovery, or business efficiency.

Next steps and AFGC engagement

The next Environment Ministers’ Meeting will be an important point in the reform process. Officials are expected to return with further options on packaging regulation, product stewardship and priority harmonisation measures, including soft plastics.

AFGC has engaged directly with the Federal Minister for the Environment, Minister Watt’s office, and has been asked to take a leading role in supporting the Government as it develops future legislation on packaging reform.

AFGC also continues to engage at ministerial level across all jurisdictions, as well as with departments on our advocacy priorities. Our engagement builds on relationships established over many years. We will continue to provide updates on key policy developments, government positions and opportunities for industry input as the work progresses.

To discuss further, please contact Sarah Collier, Director – Membership & Sustainability.