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17/09/23

15:42

Post #: 69890891
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Originally posted by williamteddy: ↑

Plastic packaging overhaul leaves supermarkets scrambling and customers hopeful of change
ByClaire Moodie
Posted 3h ago3 hours ago,updated 3h ago

Nadene Claydon is trying to reduce the amount of plastic food packaging the family has to throw in its general rubbish bin. (ABC News: Claire Moodie)

Do you ever feel like plastic packaging is the uninvited guest in your house?

You've been told it's harmful to the environment – taking hundreds of years to break down – but somehow it ends up in your supermarket trolley, bound for your fridge or pantry.

Granted, if you've got the time, money and sheer determination, you could buy food without packaging – by shopping at farmers' markets and bulk food stores.

But if you're a time-poor, working parent already struggling with the soaring cost of food, chances are so-called "soft" and "rigid" plastic packaging from the supermarket is just something you have to live with.

Fighting a losing battle
Nadene Claydon has been trying to show plastic the door for many years but feels she is fighting a losing battle.

"I do feel guilty constantly, to the point where there was a time where I wasn't buying any meat because there were so many meat trays and so much plastic," she said.

"It does weigh on my mind and unfortunately I don't have the time to spend on weekends, researching the best options."

Nadene Claydon would like to see more zero waste options in the major supermarkets. (ABC News: Claire Moodie)

Before she had children, Ms Claydon would buy and cook in bulk. She'd also spend time shopping around at different outlets to minimise her waste.

But with a busier life, she and her family have resorted to supermarket shopping for cost and convenience.

Withthe collapse of the REDcycle soft plastics scheme last year, she was frustrated about the amount of plastic ending up in her rubbish bin.

"I would love to be able to just go in the shop and know that what I was buying was going to be zero waste and to actually feel good about what I'm buying," she said.
Packaging overhaul coming

A big overhaul of Australia's packaging system offers hope for householders who are keen to do the right thing but feel hamstrung.

A new mandatory scheme looks set to make industry responsible for the packaging it puts on the market.

Fruit and vegetables on styrofoam plates wrapped in plastic wrap sit on a grocery store shelf.(Pexels)

In June,the Federal Government foreshadowed new regulationsthat will force the food and packaging industries to reduce packaging, use alternative materials and make any plastics used recyclable.

At the moment, three million tonnes of packaging is being sent to landfill each year – the equivalent of around 200 billion chip packets, according to the Federal Government.

While many food companies – including the major supermarkets – were already trying to make their packaging recyclable, in many cases it's not actually being processed, according to environmental campaigner Jeff Angel, the director of Boomerang Alliance.

"They put recycling symbols on them, but unless we have a mainstream collection system and a mainstream reprocessing and recycling system, then it all ends up in landfill," he said.
Recycling 'greenwashing'

The figures tell the story.

Until now, industry has been operating under a voluntary system which set targets for all packaging made, used and sold in Australia.

As part of these targets, 70 per cent of plastic packaging was to be recycled or composted by 2025.

But according to the latest figures, only 18 per cent is being recovered, with 82 per cent going to landfill.

Nadene Claydon is finding it a challenge to reduce her plactic waste.(ABC News: Claire Moodie)

The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) was set up to facilitate the delivery of the targets by 2025, but CEO Chris Foley concedes it's unlikely the targets will be met by the deadline.

"A whole lot of brand owners and packaging companies have done amazing work, but the targets are still very elusive," Mr Foley said.

The Albury recycling facility in NSW will be able to process around 1 billion 600ml PET plastic bottles a year.(Supplied: Pact Group)

The Pact Group is one packaging company that is backing the proposed new national rules and it's a big player in the industry.

"The packaging we produce is in every household in Australia, every business, every fridge, pantry, kitchen and bathroom — from juice bottles, milk bottles, meat trays, yoghurt, dips, shampoos, detergents," Pact executive recycling manager Andrew Smith said.

"You name it, if you've got it in your house, there's a good chance we've made it."

The recycled resin produced by the Albury recycling plant will go towards making food and drink packaging which can be recycled again and again. (Supplied: Pact Group)

But Pact doesn't just make packaging — it also recycles it on a big scale, with five plastic recycling plants across the country and another two under construction

The recycled resin from the plants is used to make new recycled drink bottles and other food and beverage packaging.

Pact Group's Andrew Smith says the new mandatory scheme will create a level playing field for the industry. (ABC News: Tara Whitchurch)

Mr Smith says the company is backing the new mandatory rules, because the voluntary arrangements aren't working.

"We're relying on industry goodwill and the work of probably too few leaders," he said.

"So I think the industry needs some certainty. It needs a level playing field."

Supermarkets aim to cut plastic
Pact currently averages 12 per cent recycled content in its own plastic packaging using locally sourced material and has a target to increase that to 30 per cent by 2025.

It's recently struck deals with Aldi and Woolworths to make packaging for their home brands with recycled content.

The big supermarkets all say they are committed to reducing the amount of plastic in their stores.(Credit: Claire Moodie)

Although no-one would be interviewed from any of the three big supermarket chains, they all supplied statements saying they were committed to reducing the plastic on their shelves.

Coles said it had recently removed the plastic from its own brand tissues, saving 13 tonnes of plastic from circulation in a year, and had signed a partnership with environmental group Planet Ark to try to reduce plastic waste.

Coles, Woolworths and Aldi also said they were working to restore public access to soft plastic recycling.

John Cummings from the Independent Grocers Association of WA is concerned there won’t be enough investment in recycling infrastructure.(Credit: Claire Moodie)

WA Independent Grocers Association president John Cummings said he welcomed any measure to reduce plastic packaging.

"If you look at what you take out of the supermarket today, you'll take out more plastic then you do actually product," he said.
Recycling infrastructure needed

He said it cost independent supermarkets several hundred dollars a week to dispose of the plastic that produce is transported in.

"Even today, recycled toilet paper comes packaged in plastic, I can't get my mind around it," he said.

But Mr Cummings said he was concerned that there would not be enough investment in the scale of recycling infrastructure that was needed for the new scheme.

"Somebody's got to want to recycle it to start with. It's got to be profitable to recycle it and there has to be a market for the product that comes out at the end of it that's recycled," he said.

Jeff Angel of the Boomerang Alliance says the voluntary national targets have been an “utter failure". (ABC News: Timothy Ailwood)

The Federal Government says a total of $690 million is being invested by the Commonwealth, state governments and industry on new and improved recycling infrastructure.

Jeff Angel believes further investment will come but only if the regulations are strong enough, with penalties for companies that don't comply.
Shoppers asked for input
Industry consultation on the new regulations has been underway since June and now it's shoppers' turn.

Householders will be asked for their views on how to reduce packaging waste during a public consultation period due to start before the end of the year.

Nadene Claydon said she hoped the scheme would lead to more opportunities to take your own containers to supermarkets.

"I have done that at bulk food stores before but been surprised at the check-out at the price," she said.

"To be able to have that at an affordable price especially with the cost of living increases at the moment…to have that option would be amazing."

Source: ABC

abc.net.au/news/2023-09-17/wa-plastic-packaging-on-borrowed-time-amid-recycling-crunch/102796124

Expand

I listened to the full interview today on ABC News Radio with Pact Groups ANDREW SMITH, he was to say the least very excited about the 115 million dollar upgrades they have made to the plastics recycling division and futures prospects for plastic recycling volumes going forward.

if I can find I link to the interview or transcript I will post it.

PGH Price at posting: 71.0¢ Sentiment: Hold Disclosure: Held
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