Next phase for soft plastics stewardship, partnership

The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) and Soft Plastic Stewardship Australia (SPSA) have announced a partnership to support the next phase of soft plastics stewardship in Australia.

The partnership brings together SPSA’s work to expand soft plastics collection and recycling pathways with APCO’s national stewardship infrastructure across reporting, invoicing, packaging guidance and extended producer responsibility administration.

APCO and SPSA will collaborate to promote scheme participation through a coordinated model designed for no duplication in levies, reporting and administration, while supporting strong data integrity and confidence across the value chain.

Chris Foley, Chief Executive Officer of APCO, said the partnership reflects the kind of practical coordination industry has been calling for.

“Soft plastics stewardship needs to be credible, workable and easier for industry to engage with,” Foley said. “This partnership connects scheme delivery with the systems many businesses already rely on, while supporting stronger consistency, clear participation pathways and greater confidence in how stewardship is administered.

“It also supports the broader integrity of the system by linking participation with robust packaging guidance and evidence-based outcomes.”

Barry Cosier, Chief Executive Officer of SPSA, said the partnership strengthens industry’s ability to deliver a scalable and cost-effective national system for soft plastic stewardship.

“Soft plastic recycling will thrive with aligned packaging design, labelling, collection and recycling infrastructure, supported by policy reform of the broader packaging value chain,” Cosier said.

“By working closely with APCO, we can provide brands and retailers with greater confidence that packaging design, labelling and recycling infrastructure are evolving together. This agreement provides industry with greater clarity and coordination.”

SPSA will continue to drive the development and expansion of collection and recycling pathways in collaboration with retailers, councils, recyclers and industry. APCO will support scheme administration through its established national processes and continue to provide industry leadership for improved soft plastics design outcomes enabled by its packaging guidance and the Australasian Recycling Label Program.

As soft plastics stewardship continues to evolve, APCO and SPSA said the partnership marks an important step towards a more coordinated, credible and scalable national approach.

For more information, email info@spsa.au. 

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