With the renewed global community interest in marine and landfill litter, particularly since the inception of the China Sword Policy, food and grocery manufacturing companies are prioritising a review of the whole of life cycle impact of packaging. This incorporates:

• Assessing packaging’s impact on safety, quality and integrity of products
• The impact of reducing food waste
• End of life recycling rates
• Environmental impacts if consumers fail to dispose of packaging as directed and it finds its way into the litter stream.

AFGC is collaborating on whole of supply chain solutions to develop solutions that meet the National Packaging Targets (NPT)and provide a triple bottom line benefit to community and the environment, while being economically responsible to minimise cost impacts to the consumer. To achieve this, the AFGC is collaborating with numerous stakeholders including the packaging sector, retailers, local, state and federal government, waste collectors, recycling facilities and processors, and the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) to develop a circular economy and increase recycling rates.

We recommend members embrace the national packaging targets <link to members centre with the targets>, assess the sustainability and recyclability of their product ranges and consult the member portal <link to members centre with the targets> for recommended action steps.

AFGC is creating a Sustainable Packaging Reference Group for the specific purpose of providing feedback and advice to the AFGC Secretariat on issues, risks, opportunities and potential impacts resulting from the National Packaging Targets (NPT), Container Deposit Schemes (CDS) and potential Single Use Plastic (SUP) regulation and in relation to the development a circular economy.