Partnering with Planet Ark to develop a soft plastics scheme 

29 April 2024

Recycling and repurposing soft plastics is a priority for the food and grocery manufacturing sector to be able to play its part in creating a circular economy.  

Since 2020, the AFGC has been developing the National Plastics Recycling Scheme (NPRS) to collect and recycle soft plastics back into usable materials and packaging for food and grocery products. The NPRS has so far garnered the support of over 40 brands and retailers from Fonterra and Unilever to 7-Eleven and Metcash. 

Today, we are excited to share that Planet Ark, an NGO focused on environmental issues, has been appointed by AFGC and the supermarkets behind the Soft Plastics Taskforce (ALDI, Coles and Woolworths), to work on the formation of a new soft plastics Product Stewardship Scheme. The scheme will build on the important work of the AFGC via the NPRS and the supermarkets via the Soft Plastics Taskforce. 

It will be crucial in reducing the environmental impacts of soft plastic waste and drive sustainably focussed economic opportunities, by creating a circular economy solution via material recovery, recycling, and end markets. 

This collaboration is now proceeding at pace to develop a nationally coordinated soft plastics Product Stewardship Scheme. Key activities over the coming months will include: 

• The creation of a not-for-profit Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) to manage the scheme and safeguard its success, 
• Obtaining all regulatory permissions including ACCC authorisations 
• The creation of a Stakeholder Advisory Council (SAC) 

The work of the SAC will be crucial in soliciting input from stakeholders and in shaping and driving the success of the scheme. 

Please reach out if you have any questions. We look forward to keeping you informed of our milestones. 

Regards 

BARRY COSIER
DIRECTOR – SUSTAINABILITY