The Boomerang Alliance is calling for a national shift towards reusable packaging by 2030 by launching the 'Reuse Australia Program' with the 'Year of Reuse' campaign to accelerate the transition away from single-use plastics.
The organisation is advocating for a national extended producer responsibility scheme for packaging that includes plastic reduction and reuse targets. It wants every state and territory to introduce a reusable strategy as part of their plastic reduction policies.
Boomerang Alliance is pushing for reusable cups and containers to become standard practice in all major stadiums and public events. They are also advocating for laws ensuring cafes and takeaway outlets offer reusable alternatives instead of disposables for dine-in customers. The campaign aims to encourage Australians to switch to reusable habits.
With Australia set to host the 2027 Rugby World Championships and the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, the organisation argues that reuse must be in place at these events, as the international community will expect it. They stress that preparing for this switch and setting up new systems at stadiums and associated locations will take time, requiring immediate action.
The organisation argues that product stewardship must become a national priority, shifting the financial and environmental burden of single-use packaging from households, small businesses, and councils to the corporations that profit from it. They see the upcoming federal election as an opportunity to introduce policies that incentivise businesses to invest in reusable solutions.
They highlight that many festivals and events worldwide, including the Paris Olympics and the 2024 Euro Football Championships, have already implemented reuse systems successfully. The Australian Open Tennis Tournament has also offered reusable cups and food containers this year, demonstrating that reuse is both feasible and effective.
Boomerang Alliance says a transition to reusable packaging could result in cost savings, with households reducing expenses by investing in durable products instead of repeatedly purchasing disposables. Businesses could lower operating costs by cutting packaging expenses and landfill levies, while local councils could reduce waste management costs, freeing up funds for essential services.
The organisation is also advocating for the federal government to introduce a 30 per cent reuse target as a starting point. They believe that by embracing a circular economy, Australia can reduce waste, lower costs, and support green jobs.
Boomerang Alliance points to reuse systems such as refillable bottles, bulk dispensers, and deposit return schemes as effective measures to tackle plastic pollution. The UN's 'Turning Off the Tap' roadmap has identified reuse systems as a viable solution to reducing plastic waste and addressing climate change.
The Boomerang Alliance's campaign aligns with broader efforts to implement sustainable policies that support economic and environmental goals, reinforcing the shift away from single-use plastics and towards a circular economy.
The organisation has outlined five key goals for 2025 to drive systemic change in reuse adoption:
- A national extended producer responsibility scheme for packaging that includes plastic reduction and reuse targets.
- Introduction of a Reusable Strategy and regulations by every state and territory as part of their plastic reduction policies.
- Reusable cups and containers becoming standard practice in all major stadiums and public events.
- Laws ensuring all cafes and takeaway outlets offer reusable cups and containers and do not provide disposables for dine-in customers.
- Actively encouraging all Australians to switch to reusable cups and containers.
Additionally, the Boomerang Alliance highlights that several EU countries have already introduced regulations requiring cafes and takeaway outlets to offer reusable cups and containers, with some imposing levies on single-use items. These measures are fostering new reuse habits and supporting the growth of reuse networks that service entire precincts or city centres.
Read the Turning Off the Tap report for a detailed introduction to reuse systems and their benefits. The report covers the benefits of reusables, definitions and standards of single-use and multiple-use items, the four reuse models (refill at home, return from home, refill on the go, and return on the go), common places for reuse, reuse at events, and takeaway outlets with examples of reuse systems currently active at events in Australia.
