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The Australian Packaging Covenant (APC) will announce a new board structure and five-year-plan by the end of 2016.

The “enhanced Covenant”, according to new CEO Trish Hyde, will be officially launched in January 2017.

“We will see more collaborative, targeted approaches to minimising the environmental impacts of packaging, she said.

“We are also changing the way we are governed and operate, so that we are more accountable, transparent and relevant – including becoming a company regulated by ASIC and the ACNC, and adopting a new board structure with industry and independent directors to provide stewardship.”

Trish-Hyde_headshot-11_A2DDF4D0-FFA5-11E5-8AA706B2CCB88DF31 Trish Hyde

In a letter to the APC, Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt confirmed ongoing government support for the Covenant.

He said the Covenant was “a central tool in addressing the environmental impacts of consumer packaging”.

Hunt is currently working with ministers on a joint statement about the scope and goals of the agreement.

In collaboration with industry and jurisdictions, the Covenant will draw on these recommendations for its five-year strategic plan.

Hyde said compliance conditions and reporting requirements would remain unchanged, and signatories should budget for their annual contribution in the coming financial year.

Food & Drink Business

Alternative protein think tank Food Frontier and Cellular Agriculture Australia (CAA) have joined forces, with the goal to accelerate the commercialisation of emerging food production technologies in Australia.

As part of the development of a national food security strategy, the federal government has commissioned a food supply chain assessment. The decision was made during a meeting of the National Food Council on 23 March, focused on the impact of conflict in the Middle East on Australia’s food system.

Australia has secured a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) after eight years of negotiations, opening new avenues for Australian exporters to sell to 450 million consumers in the EU’s $30 trillion economy.