Summary
Details
- Australia
Companies may voluntarily align packaging strategies with the targets beyond their minimum regulatory requirements.
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What’s Required
1. Reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging
The original national target was:
100% of packaging reusable, recyclable, or compostable.
Companies may need to review:
Material selection.
Packaging formats.
Composite materials.
Adhesives and labels.
Collection systems.
Recycling infrastructure.
Reuse models.
2. Plastic packaging recycling
The original target sought:
70% of plastic packaging recycled or composted.
This depends not only on theoretical recyclability but also on collection, sorting, and domestic processing capacity.
3. Recycled content
The national goal sought:
50% average recycled content across packaging.
Additional material-specific targets included:
Plastic packaging: 20%.
PET: 30%.
HDPE: 20%.
PP: 20%.
Paper: 60%.
Metal: 35%.
Glass: 50%.
4. Problematic single-use plastics
The fourth national target calls for the phase-out of problematic and unnecessary single-use plastic packaging.
Companies may need to assess:
Necessity.
Reusability.
Recyclability.
Material alternatives.
Litter risk.
Recovery pathways.
Product protection requirements.
5. Corporate alignment
APCO members commonly incorporate commitments to the National Packaging Targets into their packaging strategies and annual action plans.
Important Deadlines
2018: National Packaging Targets established.
2025: Original deadline for the four major targets.
Post-2025: APCO states that the targets were not fully achieved within the original timeframe and that work is continuing while a revised target date is established.
2026: The Australian Government continues to direct businesses to work toward the National Packaging Targets while the existing co-regulatory framework remains in operation.
Current Status
The National Packaging Targets remain relevant, but the original 2025 deadline has passed without all targets being achieved.
APCO states that it is clear the targets were not fully met within the original timeframe, and that work continues while a revised target date is established.
The Australian Government similarly states that progress has been made, but more action is required, particularly to increase plastic packaging recycling and recycled content.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
There is no standalone penalty simply for a company failing to achieve one of the national percentage targets.
However, consequences may arise through the wider co-regulatory system, including:
APCO compliance processes.
State and territory regulatory action.
Brand Owner audits.
Customer and retailer requirements.
Procurement consequences.
Reputational scrutiny.
Examples of Known Violations / Failure Modes
Typical failure modes include:
Treating the targets as having been achieved nationally when they were not.
Claiming packaging is recyclable based only on technical capability.
Failing to consider whether collection and processing infrastructure exists.
Reporting recycled content without supplier evidence.
Replacing plastics with heavier materials without lifecycle assessment.
Making “100% sustainable packaging” claims based only on recyclability.
Ignoring problematic single-use packaging.
Using compostable packaging where appropriate composting systems are unavailable.
Missing material-specific recycled-content opportunities.
Treating National Packaging Target alignment as a legal compliance certificate.
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