Member Matters

Food for Thought: Member Matters | July 2024

8 July 2024

As the global movement towards sustainability gains momentum, we are witnessing significant changes in packaging and actions to achieve a circular economy here in Australia. Our collective challenge as industry members, packagers, retailers, and recyclers is to advocate for coordinated changes both locally and, where possible, globally. 

At AFGC, we support practical yet impactful changes to packaging that reduce the environmental footprint without compromising the health and safety of consumers. It was heartening to see environment ministers acknowledge the results of the NPRS kerbside collection trials by announcing a roadmap to kerbside harmonisation including soft plastics collection. 

Over the past year, your council has been deeply engaged in the packaging reform process. Change is imminent, with consultations on packaging reform and packaging design standards expected to begin shortly. 

We expect these proposals may bring substantial changes to the existing packaging regulatory framework, potentially leading to significant consequences and costs for the industry. 

AFGC will host a webinar on 26 July for CEOs to unpack expected changes, the consequences for businesses and what our response will be. Separate webinars will be held for subject matters teams within member companies. 

Elsewhere, Parliament’s Diabetes inquiry proposed a sugar tax and restrictions on marketing to children as part of its 23 recommendations. Later this month, food ministers will meet to discuss options on mandating the Health Star Rating.  

Finally, the government said it would implement all recommendations from Craig Emerson’s review of the soon-to-be mandatory Food and Grocery Code of Conduct. We will engage government to ensure the refreshed Code meaningfully improves trading conditions for suppliers. 

Barry Cosier
Director – Sustainability