APCO Platform for next phase of packaging reform in Australia

The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) released its Policy Platform on Friday, 11 September 2026, outlining the policies Australia needs to improve packaging design, recycling and recycled content.

The settings have been developed over the past year with its members and government, and they set out what needs to happen and what will work in practice. The Platform follows the Australian Government’s recent decision not to introduce a new national packaging scheme in this term and provides practical next steps under the current framework.

“Australia still needs a packaging system that delivers better environmental outcomes, supports investment and innovation, and gives businesses greater certainty about the future. Our priority now is to help our members succeed under the current framework while governments work through the longer‑term settings,” said APCO CEO Chris Foley.

“We are focused on giving members the tools, data and guidance they need to make informed decisions and plan with confidence, whatever framework governments ultimately put in place,” he said.

APCO supports a single national approach, delivered through the existing Covenant. The Platform contains nine policy positions covering governance, targets, producer fees, design standards, labelling, Australian recycled content, waste and recycling standards, data integrity, and how new obligations should be phased in.

The Platform also calls for producer fees to stay within the packaging system to fund collection, recycling and end markets. It supports mandatory use of the Australasian Recycling Label on consumer packaging and rules that build demand for Australian recycled content.

Foley said the next phase should build on what Australia has already established. “Australia has already paid for much of what a national system needs. We are strengthening the recycling label, our data and design guidance now so that, whatever framework governments choose, the capability to run it is already in place,” he said.

For further details, visit the APCO Policy Platform.

Image credit iStock.com/Olga Yastremska