According to WWF-Australia, the much-awaited review of Australia’s 2025 National Packaging Targets is a wake-up call that signals the urgent need for stronger laws to break the country’s national addiction to plastic.
Published by the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), the Review shows that Australia is falling well short of its plastic packaging recycling targets.
The final report found four key findings:
- While the 2025 National Packaging Targets are driving a transformation in packaging in Australia, they are not on track to be met by 2025, with the target of recycling or composting 70 per cent of plastic packaging presenting the biggest challenge;
- While the 2025 National Packaging Targets continue to be a catalyst for a circular economy for packaging, it is necessary to establish consensus on post-2025 goals to enable long-term investment and innovation;
- Collaboration and cooperation between industry and government, across the entire packaging system, is critical to overcoming barriers to progress; and
- Urgent and synchronised policy and programmatic action is needed to address the crucial deficiencies in the circularity of essential packaging materials and formats.
“The report has confirmed Australia’s packaging targets won’t be met by 2025, which is deeply disappointing, but it also points to an urgent need for a better way of doing business, which reduces waste and protects our precious places and species from plastic pollution,” said Kate Noble, WWF-Australia’s No Plastics in Nature policy manager.
“Industry has said loud and clear they can’t deliver these targets without additional government intervention, which needs to come in the shape of stronger laws.
“We welcome industry making the case for a stronger regulatory framework and laws that can reduce plastic consumption, increase recycling, and ultimately reduce plastic pollution.”
Noble believes industry self-regulation has proven to be a failed experiment, and it’s time for Australia to get its act together when it comes to its plastic addition.
“With government leadership and everyone playing their role, we can reduce plastic consumption, waste and pollution, and increase reuse, repair and recycling,” continued Noble.
“There has never been a better time to drive action on this issue, with the UN currently negotiating a global plastic pollution treaty, and with recent research suggesting Australians create more single-use plastic waste, per person per year, than any other country except Singapore.
“And while there’s huge public support and commitment to tackle our skyrocketing plastic addiction, individuals, communities and companies can’t deliver the major gear shift that’s needed. This needs to be a truly national effort.”
Australians can learn more about the problem of plastic pollution and what they can do to help via the WWF-Australia website.
