Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search

Queensland and NSW floods 2022

Visit recovery.gov.au to see what help is available.

Close
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Climate change
    Climate change Driving climate action, science and innovation so we are ready for the future.
    • Climate science and adaptation
    • Australia's climate change strategies
    • Emissions reduction
    • Emissions reporting
    • International commitments
    • Climate Active
    • Climate change publications and data
    • Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts (Emissions Data)
    Stronger action on climate change

    Stronger action on climate change

    See how the Australian Government is committed to taking more ambitious action on climate change.

    Find out more

  • Energy
    Energy Building a secure and sustainable energy system for all Australians.
    • Energy policy in Australia
    • Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council
    • Renewable energy
    • Energy publications
    • energy.gov.au
    • Energy Rating
    • Commercial Building Disclosure Program
    • Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS)
    • Your Home
    • Reducing transport emissions
    Photo of commercial laundry focused on a washer and dryer

    Energy Ratings labels

    Helping consumers choose energy-efficient appliances

    Helping consumers choose energy-efficient appliances

  • Environment
    Environment Improving stewardship and sustainable management of Australia’s environment.
    • Bushfire recovery
    • Climate change and the environment
    • Biodiversity
    • EPBC Act
    • Environmental information and data
    • International activities
    • Invasive species
    • Land
    • Marine
    • Partnerships
    • Protection
    • Report a breach of environment law
    • Threatened species & ecological communities
    • Waste and recycling
    • Wildlife trade
    Decorative image

    Read our Nature Positive Plan

    Our plan sets out the Australian Government’s commitment to environmental law reform

    Find out more

  • Water
    Water Improving the sustainable management of Australia’s water supply for industry, the environment and communities.
    • Coal, Coal seam gas (CSG) and water
    • Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
    • Water policy and resources
    • Wetlands
    Water matters

    Water Matters

    Keep up with the latest news on the department's work in managing Australia's water resources.

    Read the latest edition here

  • Parks and heritage
    Parks and heritage Managing Australia’s iconic national parks, historic places and living landscapes.
    • Australian Marine Parks
    • Australian National Botanic Gardens
    • Booderee National Park
    • Kakadu National Park
    • Christmas Island National Park
    • National parks
    • Norfolk Island National Park
    • Heritage
    • Pulu Keeling National Park
    • The Great Barrier Reef
    • Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
    The reef

    Great Barrier Reef

    Australia is protecting and conserving this World Heritage Area.

    Find out more

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Climate change
    • Australia's biological resources
    • National Environmental Science Program (NESP)
    • Office of the Science Convenor
    • Australian Biological Resource Study (ABRS)
    • State of the Environment (SoE) reporting
    • Bird and bat banding
    • Supervising Scientist
    Our climate is changing

    Our climate is changing

    Find out more about how climate science helps Australians with the impacts of climate change.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We lead Australia’s response to climate change and sustainable energy use, and protect our environment, heritage and water.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • People and jobs
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    2023-24 May Budget

    2023-24 Budget

    The 2023-24 Budget has been delivered. Find out what's been announced.

    Find out what's been announced

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Environment
  3. Environment protection
  4. Waste and recycling
  5. Waste publications and data
  6. How business can reduce plastic waste

Sidebar first - EN - Protection

  • Publications and data
    • Knowledge store
    • National Waste Reports
      • National Waste Report 2022
      • National Waste Report 2020
      • National Waste Report 2018
      • National Waste Report 2016
      • National Waste Report 2013
        • International obligations
        • Policies and governance
        • National data
        • National waste streams
        • State and territory data
        • Organic waste
        • Hazardous waste
        • Industry
        • Infrastructure
        • Community operations
        • Product stewardship
        • Mapping Tool
        • Data workbooks
        • Downloads
        • Frequently asked questions
      • National Waste Report 2010
    • Waste exports

How business can reduce plastic waste

2021
Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
Download
How business can reduce plastic waste (PDF 618KB)

We are on a plastics mission, and everyone has a role.

Plastic has transformed our everyday lives. But the volume of plastic, and its long lifespan, makes it one of our biggest waste problems. Solving the plastics problem is everyone’s responsibility.

The Australian Government is taking action on 5 fronts through the National Plastics Plan:

  • legislation
  • investment
  • industry targets
  • research and development
  • community education.

We all have a role to play

Tackling the plastics problem is a shared responsibility. Businesses can play a key role in addressing plastics through its entire life-cycle – including design, use, recovery and re-use.

Prevent – Stop plastic at its source

We need to act now to reduce our plastics, and avoid plastics that cannot be recycled. The simplest way to do this is to avoid generating unnecessary, single-use and problematic plastics and design your products and packaging for sustainability.

You can:

  • transition away from unnecessary single-use plastics used in your business
  • ask your suppliers to use sustainable alternatives
  • shift to easily recyclable plastics such as PET, HDPE, LDPE and PP.

Recycle - Take responsibility for your plastics

Industry can be extremely influential in driving recycling initiatives.

  • Become a signatory to the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO). APCO helps members to improve their recycling practices.
  • Use the Australian Recycling Logo on your products to help consumers recycle better.
  • Participate in Operation Clean Sweep®, to eliminate pre-production plastics resin pellet, flake, recycled chip and powder loss.
  • Be a part of our industry commitment to deliver 4 national packaging targets by 2025.

Industry packaging targets for 2025

  • 100% of packaging being re-usable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.
  • 70% of plastic packaging being recycled or composted by 2025.
  • 50% of average recycled content included in packaging by 2025.
  • The phase out of problematic and unnecessary single-use plastic packaging by 2025.

The National Packaging Targets apply to all packaging that is made, used and sold in Australia. APCO is charged with delivering the industry-led targets.

Businesses in action

ALDI Australia has committed to a 25% reduction in plastic packaging in their stores. By 2025, brand product packaging will be 100% recyclable, reusable or compostable.

ALDI has transitioned away from unnecessary plastics by:

  • switching to cardboard punnets for a range of produce, and removing plastic bags from banana stands.
  • introducing compostable zucchini trays, which has diverted over 76 tonnes of plastic from landfill.
  • switching to clear meat packaging to reduce the use of difficult to recycle black plastic packaging.
  • introducing paper-stemmed cotton buds to avoid over 357 million plastic stems ending up in landfill each year.
  • switching to more compostable and recyclable alternatives to plastic tableware.

The National Plastics Plan outlines actions we can all take to reduce the effects of plastics on our environment. Let’s solve Australia’s plastics problem together.

Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 03 October 2021

© Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.