New single-use plastic bans introduced September 1 in QLD, SA, and WA

Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia have implemented their latest rounds of plastic bans on September 1. Queensland, South Australia,...

Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia have implemented their latest rounds of plastic bans on September 1. Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia will implement their latest rounds of plastic bans today, and the National Retail Association is encouraging retailers and their suppliers to check that they understand the new...

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Official Container Deposit Scheme Regulations | Stage 2

The first CDS Amendment Regulations were made law by Governor-In-Council on 8 August 2023, and they have now been...

The first CDS Amendment Regulations were made law by Governor-In-Council on 8 August 2023, and they have now been published on the Legislation Vic Website found here. Here is a brief summary of the changes: Regulation 4 amends definitions: in the definition of "donation partner" wording has changed to better...

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National Packaging Targets with APCO

The 2025 National Packaging Targets apply to all packaging that is made, used, and sold in Australia and the...

The 2025 National Packaging Targets apply to all packaging that is made, used, and sold in Australia and the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is charged by the Australian government to facilitate the delivery of the 2025 targets. Recently, APCO CEO, Chris Foley, and Packaging Technologist, Ian Hayes, joined our...

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The First Supplier Registration and Contracting System is now live.

  If you are a manufacturer, distributor, importer, contract bottler, or retailer supplying beverage containers into/within Victoria, you may be...

  If you are a manufacturer, distributor, importer, contract bottler, or retailer supplying beverage containers into/within Victoria, you may be considered a First Supplier. In Victoria, if you are a First Supplier according to the Circular Economy (Waste Reduction and Recycling) Act 2021 (VIC), you have a legal obligation to participate...

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New Check Locally logo for soft plastics

The Australasian Recycling Label's (ARL) are pleased to provide an update regarding the ARL's, newest Check Locally logo, including...

The Australasian Recycling Label's (ARL) are pleased to provide an update regarding the ARL's, newest Check Locally logo, including the steps brand owners need to take in order to be eligible for a new label. Following the collapse of REDcycle, brand owners are required to update any soft plastics labelling...

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APCO Update, new Soft Plastics labelling option

In case you missed the June APCO Update Webinar. Please find a summary of key topics in the webinar...

In case you missed the June APCO Update Webinar. Please find a summary of key topics in the webinar below and a Soft Plastics FAQ. New Check Locally label provides advice to consumers The webinar highlighted the introduction of a new label for soft plastics under the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL)....

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ACCC Announces 2023-24 Product Safety Priorities

Every year, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) identifies key areas to minimise and raise awareness of the...

Every year, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) identifies key areas to minimise and raise awareness of the risks posed by unsafe consumer goods. Last week, ACCC announced the 2023-24 Product Safety Priorities  1. Young children’s product safety Compliance, enforcement, and education initiatives, focusing on consumer products, such as sleep aids,...

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National Packaging Targets

The 2025 National Packaging Targets apply to all packaging that is made, used, and sold in Australia, and the...

The 2025 National Packaging Targets apply to all packaging that is made, used, and sold in Australia, and the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is charged by the Australian government to facilitate the delivery of the 2025 targets. The Sustainable Packaging Guidelines document includes the National Packaging Targets information and...

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NABERS Energy

NABERS is a national government program that rates the operational performance of buildings on a 6-star rating scale. It provides...

NABERS is a national government program that rates the operational performance of buildings on a 6-star rating scale. It provides a simple, reliable, and comparable sustainability measurement. Over the last 10 years, NABERS customers have saved an average of 30-40% on their energy. To support Australia’s transition to a net-zero built...

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ACCC guidance for businesses on conducting a product safety recall

If a product is a risk to safety, or it does not comply with a mandatory standard or product...

If a product is a risk to safety, or it does not comply with a mandatory standard or product ban, your business may need to recall it. The ACCC has today published updated practical guidance and tools for businesses on when and how a product safety recall should occur. The guidance...

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Cost of organics regulation outweighs benefits (FED)

The Australian Government has decided not to impose further regulations on the organics industry after two separate cost-benefit analyses...

The Australian Government has decided not to impose further regulations on the organics industry after two separate cost-benefit analyses (CBA) found the costs would outweigh the benefits. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry Murray Watt said that he had examined the proposed domestic regulatory framework and considered a range of...

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Have your say: NT single-use plastics ban

The Northern Territory Government has released its single-use plastics discussion paper and is calling for industry input and submissions. The...

The Northern Territory Government has released its single-use plastics discussion paper and is calling for industry input and submissions. The following items are being considered for phase-out: Plastic bags (heavy weight) Plastic straws Plastic utensils and stirrers Plastic bowls and plates Expanded polystyrene (EPS) consumer food containers EPS consumer goods...

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Stay up to date with the latest sustainability movements

The National Retail Association (NRA) Policy team actively work across multiple sustainability and environmental regulations impacting retailers and their...

The National Retail Association (NRA) Policy team actively work across multiple sustainability and environmental regulations impacting retailers and their supply chains. 1. Single-Use Plastics Summary table: See the latest update to our summary table of all single-use plastic regulations in Australia and New Zealand: https://www.nationalretail.org.au/policy-advocacy/action-on-single use-plastics/    2. Plastic bans across AU/NZ: Need...

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WA passes more plastic bans

On Friday 24 February, the WA Government passed regulations to phase-out more single-use plastic items, including coffee cups and...

On Friday 24 February, the WA Government passed regulations to phase-out more single-use plastic items, including coffee cups and containers, over the next 3 years. The National Retail Association delivered a comprehensive engagement program in WA in 2022 to assist with the Stage 1 ban, visiting over 4300 retailers, providing...

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UK greenwashing guidance and learnings for Australian retailers

Consumers are placing greater importance on the social and environmental credentials of their purchases. The ACCC has heard growing...

Consumers are placing greater importance on the social and environmental credentials of their purchases. The ACCC has heard growing concerns that some businesses are falsely promoting environmental or green credentials to capitalise on these consumer preferences – termed ‘greenwashing.’ Consumers are often unable to determine the accuracy of a product’s...

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A new way of packaging that connects businesses together

The National Retail Association, Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation, Australian Institute of Packaging, and the Australian food and Grocery Council...

The National Retail Association, Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation, Australian Institute of Packaging, and the Australian food and Grocery Council are working in collaboration on the Federal Government's Australasian Recycling Label (ARL). In May 2023, the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) will be launching a new packaging platform on the ARL Marketplace:...

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