Changes to Packaging Recycling Standards in New Zealand: PREP Updates and Guidance

The Packaging Forum's Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) program is undergoing significant updates in response to the New Zealand Ministry...

The Packaging Forum's Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) program is undergoing significant updates in response to the New Zealand Ministry for Environment's Gazette notice and associated standards for kerbside recycling. The changes, effective from February 1, 2024, aim to standardize materials collected and excluded via household kerbside recycling. The ARL...

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Changes coming for seafood country of origin labelling for hospitality businesses

In late November 2023, the Australian Government announced new rules around seafood Country of Origin Labelling for hospitality businesses. Consumer...

In late November 2023, the Australian Government announced new rules around seafood Country of Origin Labelling for hospitality businesses. Consumer ministers voted to introduce the AIM model which will require business to show if seafood for sale is either: Australian (A) Imported (I) Mixed origin (M), if a dish includes...

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Regulations to ban additional plastic products in SA

South Australia is committed to phasing out additional single-use and other plastic products over a 3-year period. The first stage...

South Australia is committed to phasing out additional single-use and other plastic products over a 3-year period. The first stage of these bans commenced on 1 September 2023, and included plastic pizza savers, plastic-stemmed cotton buds, single-use plastic bowls without lids for food and beverages, and single-use plastic plates for...

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The ARL consumer insights report

Recycling is still seen as the most impactful everyday behaviour consumers can do to help the environment. The Australian...

Recycling is still seen as the most impactful everyday behaviour consumers can do to help the environment. The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) has released the ARL Consumer Insights Report, and in fantastic news, awareness of the label continues to grow, and three-quarters of consumers are asking to see...

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Dr Geoffrey Annison on the establishment of a federal Anti-Modern Slavery Commissioner

On 3 November 2023, the Federal Government introduced the Modern Slavery Amendment (Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner) Bill 2023 into Parliament...

On 3 November 2023, the Federal Government introduced the Modern Slavery Amendment (Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner) Bill 2023 into Parliament establishing Australia’s first federal Anti-Modern Slavery Commissioner. This milestone event was, of course, expected as it was part of the Government’s policy platform going into the 2022 federal election, and...

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Welcoming Minderoo Foundation’s Sarah McEvoy as a Sustainability Consultant

The National Retail Association is pleased to welcome Minderoo Foundation’s Sarah McEvoy as a Sustainability Consultant. Sarah will support industry...

The National Retail Association is pleased to welcome Minderoo Foundation’s Sarah McEvoy as a Sustainability Consultant. Sarah will support industry by making regular contributions to our member communications on the latest research and policy developments across sustainability, plastic pollution and impacts on human health. Sarah McEvoy joined Minderoo Foundation in April...

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Strengthening Cybersecurity for Small and Medium Retail Businesses: A Vital Initiative by the Albanese Government

In response to the mounting cyber threats faced by small and medium businesses, the National Retail Association welcomes the...

In response to the mounting cyber threats faced by small and medium businesses, the National Retail Association welcomes the Australian Cyber Security Strategy introduced by the Albanese Government. Under the leadership of Minister for Cyber Security, Clare O'Neil, this comprehensive strategy, offers support for businesses vulnerable to cyber incidents,...

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SCCA Research: Retail Trade Analysis – October 2023 (First Release)

Retail Trade trend estimate increased by 0.3 percent in October 2023 and by 1.5 per cent year-on-year The latest release...

Retail Trade trend estimate increased by 0.3 percent in October 2023 and by 1.5 per cent year-on-year The latest release (October 2023) of the monthly ABS Retail Trade data indicates that the overall month-on-month (m-o-m) trend estimate increased by 0.3 percent, equal to 0.3 percent in September and August 2023....

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Combatting Emerging Scams During the Holiday Season

Safeguarding Your Business and Finances: A Comprehensive Guide to Combatting Emerging Scams During the Holiday Season As the holiday shopping...

Safeguarding Your Business and Finances: A Comprehensive Guide to Combatting Emerging Scams During the Holiday Season As the holiday shopping season unfolds with Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas approaching, the risk of cybercrime and scams heightens. Also on the horizon is Scams Awareness Week (27 November – 1 December...

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Bringing back Australasian Recycling Label sessions from now until December

The Australian Government is working with Industry to help brands transition to the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL). The ARL is...

The Australian Government is working with Industry to help brands transition to the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL). The ARL is an evidence-based labelling system that is designed to reduce confusion on what is and isn't recyclable in 80% of households with clear and accurate on-pack instructions. It is also designed...

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Federal Inquiry into Diabetes in Australia Hearing

Further to our recent updates, Monday morning, the National Retail Association were pleased to provide evidence to the Federal...

Further to our recent updates, Monday morning, the National Retail Association were pleased to provide evidence to the Federal Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport's Inquiry into Diabetes in Australia. Dr Alan Barclay and David Stout provided evidence on behalf of the National Retail Association's Health and Nutrition...

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National Recycling Week – The ARL, sustainable packaging and single-use plastics

It’s National Recycling Week and the National Retail Association is encouraging all retailers to understand and learn more about...

It’s National Recycling Week and the National Retail Association is encouraging all retailers to understand and learn more about sustainable packaging, recycling, the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) and single-use plastic bans across the States and Territories. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) We are currently working in partnership with the Australian Packaging...

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Empowering Retail Communities to Combat Crime this Holiday Season

The National Retail Association is working with retailers, industry experts, police and justice representatives to support businesses in taking...

The National Retail Association is working with retailers, industry experts, police and justice representatives to support businesses in taking proactive measures against retail crime. Last week, Deputy CEO and Director of NRA Legal, Lindsay Carroll joined the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) at their Customer Aggression and Violence...

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NSW EPA new single-use plastic ban discussion paper

The National Retail Association has made a preliminary assessment of the New South Wales governments Next Steps discussion paper. The paper...

The National Retail Association has made a preliminary assessment of the New South Wales governments Next Steps discussion paper. The paper focuses on items from the 2020-21 Key Littered Items Study NSW EPA Report. There are three key pillars, outlined in the discussion paper: Pillar one: Reduce all litter items by 60% by 2030...

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Retailers welcome legislation to protect community from knife violence

The National Retail Association has welcomed the announcement from the Palaszczuk Government, which will seek to introduce new laws...

The National Retail Association has welcomed the announcement from the Palaszczuk Government, which will seek to introduce new laws to Parliament to restrict the sale of knives, certain other bladed items, and replica firearms (including gel blasters) to juveniles, in a commitment to protect the community and further combat...

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Exploring the Role of Artificial Intelligence in a Retail Crime Setting with Professor Michael Townsley

The National Retail Association is pleased to have been joined last month by Queensland Small Business Commissioner, Dominique Lamb,...

The National Retail Association is pleased to have been joined last month by Queensland Small Business Commissioner, Dominique Lamb, and our Crime Consultant, Professor Michael Townsley, at the free online session for retail and loss prevention specialists. Attendees received updates on the latest criminology research, the current retail crime...

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