The Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) hosted its seventh State of Industry webinar this month, focusing on the future of soft plastics recycling in Australia.
The webinar attracted participants from across Australia and New Zealand, with many actively engaging through questions and expressing a strong willingness to deepen their knowledge on the subject.
The webinar provided updates on the progress of the industry-led soft plastics recycling scheme, which is spearheaded by the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC). The scheme aims to recycle hard-to-recycle soft plastics, including food packaging, and is currently transitioning to a new entity, Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia (SPSA).
Barry Cosier, director of sustainability at AFGC, and Aaron Rodman, associate director of NPRS finance and operations at AFGC, discussed key milestones and future plans for the initiative. The scheme, which completed trials in 2022 and 2023, aims to increase soft plastics recycling rates by improving collection methods and ensuring end markets for the recycled materials.
According to Cosier, the scheme has shown positive results during trials, with a preference for kerbside collection at 92.4 per cent and a 34-38 per cent participation rate. The upcoming phase will see larger-scale pilots, which are expected to capture and recycle more soft plastics. "Our goal is to make it easier for households to recycle soft plastics, potentially increasing the volume of soft plastics being captured for recycling," Cosier said.
He explained that "the objective of the scheme is to increase the end markets," stressing that while collection is crucial, market development is equally important for achieving circular economy goals. Barry mentioned that despite challenges such as the negative press surrounding soft plastics, the trials conducted demonstrated promising results, with significant participation rates and high-quality recycling potential.
The transition to SPSA marks a critical step in the scheme’s evolution. The new entity, a not-for-profit organisation, will oversee the scheme’s operations and work closely with the government, industry stakeholders, and the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) to develop a multi-channel collection system. SPSA is aiming to implement a levy on soft plastics, with the funds directed towards collection and recycling efforts.
Aaron Rodman discussed the ongoing evolution of Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia (SPSA) and the progress made since its inception. He highlighted the increase in recyclers and partners involved in the initiative, a stark contrast to the limited participation in 2020.
Rodman noted that efforts from the SPSA, along with government funding of approximately $40 million, have been instrumental in boosting investment confidence in the sector. One such success is IQ Renew, which is already processing soft plastics into pellets, showing tangible progress.
Rodman stressed the importance of creating "pull-through" opportunities by encouraging businesses to incorporate recycled materials into their products. He also discussed the vital role of both mechanical and chemical recycling methods in ensuring the long-term success of the initiative.
The webinar also highlighted the need for collaboration between stakeholders, with APCO focusing on strategy and SPSA on operational delivery. The initiative is designed to align with New Zealand’s efforts to avoid duplication and streamline recycling processes across both countries.
This alignment is essential to avoid duplication and streamline recycling processes across both Australia and New Zealand. The AFGC and SPSA called for industry support to help scale the scheme, emphasising that membership and government policy are crucial to its success. "The more brands that join the scheme, the stronger our chances of achieving our recycling targets and ensuring that soft plastics are recycled into new products," Cosier concluded.
