Latest Sustainability News
Retailers are taking action on single-use plastics (SUPs), such as lightweight plastic bags, straws, cutlery, and other plastic items.
The National Retail Association supports the phase-out of single-use, unnecessary and problematic plastics to reduce litter, however for these to be successful and long-lasting, these changes must be:
- nationally consistent
- fair for all retailers regardless of size
- carefully considered and evidence-based
- commercially viable and realistic in a global market
- supported by retailer & consumer education
- supported by investment in Australian innovation & infrastructure
While some differences in timing are expected between states, critical differences between legislation are halting or reversing environmental progress. We call on local, state and federal governments to work together so retailers can invest in sustainability with certainty.
Governments in multiple states and territories are currently either implementing or considering bans on a range of plastic items including:
- plastic straws
- plastic cutlery
- plastic stirrers
- plastic plates/bowls
- plastic cups
- plastic-lined coffee cups
- plastic takeaway containers
- plastic shopping bags
- plastic produce bags
- degradable / oxo-degradable plastics
- balloons
The National Retail Association is an active member of all state government taskforces and advisory groups.
We work with the whole supply chain – retailers, suppliers, recyclers, waste collection, activist groups, producers and charities – to bring unique insight, technical knowledge, practical experience and international evidence to help inform government policy decisions.
Our goal is to enable sustainable change that is practical, accessible, fair, and ultimately better for the environment rather than greenwashing.
Download our Summary Table on current and proposed legislation (link updated regularly).
View the Summary Table
SCROLL DOWN FOR INFORMATION ON BANS IN EACH STATE
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Successes & Challenges for Businesses
Item bans proving successful
- Lightweight plastic shopping bags
- Straws
- Stirrers
- Cutlery
- Plastic plates
- Unlidded plastic bowls
- EPS foodware
- EPS cups
Why
- Safe & viable alternatives available
- Industry leadership
- Reasonable notice
- Evidence of some consumer behaviour change
Item bans proving difficult
- Printed paper plates & bowls
- Cups (and their lids/seals)
- Containers (and their lids/seals)
- Any items with plastic lids
- Reusable shopping bags
- Produce bags
Why
- Different rules per jurisdiction
- Contradiction of globally-recognised models (eg. waste hierarchy)
- Lack of consistent or widespread infrastructure (eg. composting only available to less than 20% of population)
- Lack of viable, safe alternatives (eg. alternatives that melt, leach, disintegrate)
- Cost & time issues (eg. covid, supply chain, staffing, shipping, global impacts)
- Misleading information (eg. bioplastics, plastic-free)
- Adverse environmental impacts (eg. carbon impacts of paper, litter impacts of bioplastics)
- Consumer behaviour, aggression and misunderstanding
- Short & inconsistent regulation lead times
Recommendations
Actions which would help industry to deliver better, long-term environmental outcomes:
- National harmonisation
- Support existing / recognised frameworks
- More viable, safe alternatives
- Resource recovery infrastructure
- Longer-term plans & commitments
- Public education
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NRA Business Engagement Programs
Over the past 5 years the National Retail Association have also demonstrated our commitment to helping businesses understand and comply with single-use plastic bans, delivering over 10 state-wide business engagement programs and awareness programs reaching over 10 million Australian consumers and businesses.
Within the last 12 months alone, the National Retail Association team have been engaged to deliver custom Business Engagement Programs by 5 state governments to educate and support over 100,000 retailers, suppliers, charities and community organisations impacted by SUP bans.
Our Business Engagement Programs
Over the past 5 years, our team has helped over 100,000 retail and food outlets, suppliers, charities and community groups to phase-out over 10 billion single-use plastic items.
We customise our education and engagement programs to each government ban, location, demographics and stakeholder groups, providing a range of resources and services designed to help businesses and other impacted stakeholders to understand the ban and manage their transition. In some programs we also have the opportunity to deliver large-scale awareness campaigns.
Importantly, our specialised team of liaisons visit hundreds of small and medium retailers in their stores every day – across metro and regional Australia – to provide resources, answer questions, and provide personalised advice to suit each unique business.
Based on each state government’s needs, we also provide services designed for time-poor businesses who need clear, concise information:
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- Specialist team
- Dedicated websites
- Factsheets, signage and translated materials
- Online info sessions
- Tollfree hotline and email
- Awareness campaigns
- Advice across multiple bans
- Post-ban support
- Business surveys to inform future action
Need help?
- Email us: sustainability@nationalretail.org.au
- Call us: 1800 844 946
- Attend an online session: https://bit.ly/3wPFBmT
- Register for our sustainability updates: https://forms.office.com/r/CY7kdHKpwZBelow information current as of 1 June 2023.
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Single-use plastic bans by state
Need help?
- Email us: sustainability@nationalretail.org.au
- Call us: 1800 817 723
- Attend an online session: https://bit.ly/3wPFBmT
- Register for our sustainability updates: https://forms.office.com/r/CY7kdHKpwZ
Below information current as of 1 June 2022.
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NSW Single-Use Plastics Ban
What’s banned?
From 1 June 2022, lightweight plastic shopping bags with handles that are 35 microns or less are banned in NSW.
From 1 November 2022, the following items are banned in NSW:
- Single-use plastic straws & stirrers
- Single-use plastic cutlery
- Single-use plastic plates
- Single-use plastic bowls without spill-proof lids
- Food containers & cups that are made from expanded polystyrene (EPS)
- Single-use plastic cotton buds
- Rinse-off personal care products containing plastic microbeads.
It is also an offence to display banned items, possess for supply and provide false/misleading info.
Items not in the list above (eg. cups, containers) will be reviewed in 2024.
Key notes
- Compostable plastics:
- banned for all items
- Exemptions:
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- items in sealed pre-packaged food & bev before store by machine process
- distribution outside the state
- straws on request (not on display)
- plastic-coated paper plates & bowls
- cotton buds used for forensic, scientific or medical purposes
- also see detailed info on exemption applications >
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- Defining single-use – 3 key criteria:
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- Settings where items are ordinarily used once
- Diswashability (125 washes by Nov 2023, 780 washes by May 2024)
- Marketing
- See EPA guidelines >
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More information
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WA Plastics Ban
What’s banned?
STAGE 1 BAN:
Banned from 1 January 2022:
- It is an offence to provide false or misleading information about items which are included in the ban.
Banned from 1 July 2022:
- All plastic shopping bags with handles (includes all thickness, includes polymer-coated paper bags, additional requirements for fabric bags)
- Disposable plastic straws & stirrers
- Disposable plastic cutlery
- Disposable plastic plates (incl. polymer-coated paper)
- Disposable plastic bowls without lids (incl. polymer-coated paper)
- Disposable plastic containers without lids (incl. polymer-coated paper)
- Food containers & trays that are made from expanded polystyrene
- Balloon releases (balloons not banned)
Banned from 1 October 2022:
- Disposable plastic cups for cold drinks (cup lids not yet banned)
Key notes
Compostable plastics:
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- banned for most items
- except specific rules for paperboard products
Exemptions:
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- items in sealed pre-packaged food & bev before store
- distribution outside the state
- straws on request (not on display)
- EPS trays used for raw meat or seafood
- other specific exemptions apply eg. airlines
More information
- Official website for business (National Retail Association) >
- Downloadable resources (National Retail Association) >
- Government website >
- Full legislation >
STAGE 2
In February 2023, 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 has been engaged to manage business queries via a tollfree hotline (1800 817 723), a dedicated website for business (www.plasticsbanwa.com.au) and regular online sessions, at this stage.
Summary of the next bans:
Phase 2a – Supply banned by 1 September 2023
- Degradable plastic (incl. oxo-degradable and landfill degradable)
Cotton buds with plastic shafts - Microbeads
- EPS cups and EPS in food and beverage packaging (including meat trays)
- Loose fill expanded plastic packaging (including all forms of expanded plastic eg. EPS, EPE, EPP and bioplastic foam).
Phase 2b – Supply banned by 1 March 2024
- Takeaway coffee cups (excl. AU certified lined paper cups)
Cup Lids and seals – hot & cold drinks (including plastic lined lids) - Plastic trays for takeaway food not covered in the Stage 1 ban
Fruit and vegetable produce bags, including compostable plastic
Phase 2c – Supply banned by 1 September 2024
- Lids, windows and heat-sealed film for takeaway food containers, trays and bowls (excl. AU certified lined paper lids)
- Lidded food containers, trays and bowls for takeaway and eat-in applications. There is a limited exclusion that allows plastic lids/windows for takeaway food that is pre-packed and placed on display for sale.
Phase 2d – Supply banned by 1 July 2025
- Moulded expanded plastic packaging (including all forms of expanded plastic eg. EPS, EPE, EPP and bioplastic foam)
Definitions and detailed information on each item >
More information
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ACT Single-Use Plastics Ban
What’s banned?
Banned from 1 July 2021:
- Single-use plastic cutlery & stirrers
- Foodware & cups made from expanded polystyrene (EPS)
Banned from 1 July 2022:
- Single-use plastic straws
- Single-use plastic cotton buds
- Oxo-degradable plastics
Banned from 1 July 2023:
- single-use plastic plates and unlidded bowls (exemption for plastic-lined paper plates and bowls until Nov 2024)
- expanded polystyrene (EPS) loose fill packaging
- expanded polystyrene (EPS) trays (including pre-packaged meat trays, etc)
- plastic microbeads in rinse-off personal care and cleaning products
Banned from 1 January 2024:
- all plastic shopping bags, including plastic-lined paper bags
- non-woven polypropylene bags must be 90gsm and have stitched seams
It is also an offence to provide false/misleading info.
Key notes
- Compostable plastics:
- banned for all items
- Exemptions:
- distribution outside the state
- straws on request (not on display)
- other specific exemptions apply eg. EPS gelato boxes, forensic/medical specific exemptions
More information
- Government website
- Downloadable resources
- Full policy
- 2023 legislation (external links):
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QLD Single-Use Plastics Ban
STAGE 1 BAN (2021)
What’s banned?
Banned from 1 September 2021:
- Single-use plastic straws & stirrers
- Single-use plastic cutlery
- Single-use plastic plates
- Single-use plastic bowls without lids
- Food containers & cups made from expanded polystyrene (EPS)
It is also an offence to provide false/misleading info.
Key notes
- Compostable plastics:
- Australian certified compostable plastic items are permitted (AS4736 or AS5810). National Retail Association does not recommend these given bans in other states.
- Exemptions:
- items in sealed pre-packaged food & bev before store.
- distribution outside the state.
- types of organisations are exempt from the 2021 ban (eg. medical) but retailers cannot provide straws.
- polymer-coated paper products plates and bowls.
STAGE 2 BAN (2023)
Further items will be banned in QLD from 1 September 2023, including:
- plastic shopping bags with handles which do not meet 2 new requirements (80% recycled content and carry 10kg for 125 uses as verified by reusability tests)
- cotton buds with plastic stems
- expanded polystyrene (EPS) loose packaging (eg. packing peanuts)
- plastic microbeads in rinseable personal care and cleaning products
- balloon releases.
Detailed information on each item >
Some exemptions apply to specific items, but please note that organisation-wide exemptions in the 2021 ban do not apply to items in the 2023 ban.
Leading up to, and after the ban, the National Retail Association team are providing support and advice for businesses, including free online information sessions, visiting thousands of stores, manning a tollfree hotline, and specific factsheets for businesses.
More information
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SA Single-Use Plastics Ban
What’s banned?
Banned from 1 March 2021:
- Single-use plastic straws
- Single-use plastic cutlery & stirrers
Banned from 1 March 2022:
- Foodware & cups made from expanded polystyrene (EPS)
- Oxo-degradable plastics
Banned from 1 September 2023:
- Single-use plastic plates and unlidded bowls (exemption for plastic-lined paper plates and bowls until Nov 2024)
- Cotton buds with plastic stems
- Plastic pizza savers
Further bans are planned in 2024 and 2025.
It is also an offence to provide false/misleading info.
Key notes
- Compostable plastics:
- banned for all items
- Exemptions:
- items in sealed pre-packaged food & bev before store until Sept 2025
- distribution outside the state
- straws on request (not on display)
- other specific exemptions apply
More information
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VIC Single-Use Plastics Ban
What’s banned?
Banned from 1 February 2023:
- Single-use plastic straws and stirrers
- Single-use plastic cutlery
- Single-use plastic plates
- Food and drink containers made from expanded polystyrene
- Single-use plastic cotton buds
It is also an offence to provide false/misleading info.
Key notes
- Compostable plastics:
- banned for all items
- Reusability:
- ‘Reusable’ items are defined as a plastic item that is manufactured: to be used for the same purpose on multiple occasions, and with a warranty (or other written representation) of at least one year.
- Exemptions:
- items in sealed pre-packaged food & bev before store
- distribution outside the state
- straws on request (not on display)
- plastic-coated paper plates (exempt until Nov 2024)
- other specific exemptions apply
More information
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TAS / Hobart Single-Use Plastics Ban
Tasmania has not announced a single-use plastics ban.
However, the City of Hobart implemented a ban in 2020 which includes:
- single-use plastic takeaway packaging that is smaller than one litre or an A4 sheet of paper AND
- is prepared onsite for immediate consumption
Items include:
- Plastic cutlery
- Plastic straws
- Plastic takeaway food containers and lids
- Plastic lined noodle boxes
- Plastic lined coffee cups
- Plastic lids on takeaway cups
- Plastic sandwich wedges
- Sauce sachets (e.g. tomato, soy, tartare)
Key notes
- Compostable plastics:
- certified compostable allowed for all items (Australian Standard AS4736, European Standard EN13432, United States of American standard D6400)
- Exemptions:
- items in sealed pre-packaged food & bev before store
- distribution outside the council area
More information
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NT/ Darwin Single-Use Plastics Ban
The Northern Territory has announced plans to implement a single-use plastics ban by 2025.
Items being considered for the 2025 ban include:
- Plastic shopping bags (heavy weight)
- Plastic straws
- Plastic utensils and stirrers
- Plastic bowls and plates
- EPS consumer food containers
- EPS consumer goods packaging (loose fill and moulded)
- Microbeads in personal health care products
- Helium balloon (releases)
The City of Darwin implemented a ban from use on council land from 1 January 2019 on single use plastic items including disposable coffee cups, smoothie cups, lids, straws, cutlery, stirrers, plates, bowls and takeaway containers.
More information
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New Zealand Single-Use Plastics Ban
What’s banned?
What’s banned?
Banned from 1 October 2022:
- Cotton buds with plastic stems or with synthetic fibre
- Plastic drink stirrers
- Oxo- and photo-degradable plastic products
- Certain PVC food trays and containers
- Polystyrene takeaway packaging
- Expanded polystyrene (EPS) food and beverage packaging
Banned from 1 July 2023:
- Plastic produce bags for fresh unpackaged fruit and vegetables
- Plastic straws
- Plastic cutlery
- Plastic plates & bowls
- Plastic produce labels
All other PVC and polystyrene food and drink packaging will be phased out by mid-2025.
Key notes
- Includes PVC trays and containers used for meat fish and poultry, fresh produce and baked goods only
- Includes Expanded Polystyrene sold at retail, including food service, and form-fill-seal pre-packaged
- Polystyrene takeaway packaging used to pack ready-to-eat food and beverages for immediate consumption, exempting pre-packaged off-site
- Exemptions for cold chain transport and protective packaging EPS.
- Exemptions for single-use cotton buds used for medical or scientific purposes.
More information
- Information on New Zealand ban
What we do
The National Retail Association Policy Team exists to help retail businesses succeed and grow within an ever-changing regulatory environment.
Our team works with a wide range of industry stakeholders – retailers, government, law enforcement, regulatory bodies, shopping centres, community groups, supporting associations and many more – to develop industry-wide policy platforms or positions on issues of importance to the Australian retail sector.
We work with all retailers across the retail and foodservice industry – regardless of size, category or business model – from the largest department chains to family-run pizza shops. Similar issues affect all retailers every day – such as retail crime, product safety and environmental legislation – and we all benefit from sharing intelligence and real-world experience.
We work actively with governments at international, federal, state and local levels to ensure the interests and needs of the Australian retail and services sectors are protected and promoted. Rather than running from inevitable regulatory change, we provide a bridge between retailers and government – facilitating the exchange of ideas and information which ultimately leads to more informed, commercially-aware outcomes for all parties.
We place real-world insight above all else, so we actively engage with retailers in stores, strip precincts and shopping centres.
We tackle the issues you can’t tackle alone.