The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is reforming packaging regulations through the implementation of an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme. The initiative aims to address economic gaps in recycling and support Australia’s transition to a circular economy. 

A national consultation with stakeholders in early 2025 revealed the need for greater regulatory clarity, stronger governance, and industry-specific considerations. In response, APCO will continue using the current turnover-based charging system while further developing the EPR model. 

Feedback from the consultation highlighted the need for greater regulatory clarity, government efforts, and industry-specific considerations. The organisation emphasised its commitment to delivering an EPR model that works effectively and the necessity for additional time to ensure its success.  

The plan focuses on interventions to support recycling, aiming to deliver outcomes that are in addition to existing systems, such as kerbside recycling. This approach ensures that the intervention costs by APCO members are lower compared to brand owners in other countries, making it a more feasible model for Australia.  

With strong government backing and ongoing consultation, the EPR reform remains a key part of Australia’s broader strategy to transform packaging use and recycling. This is to ensure the final model is robust, practical, and aligned with both industry needs and environmental goals. But considering the EPR is already in application in other markets such as parts of the EU, we expect this to only be a delay, not a cancellation. 

With the EPR implementation still looming and the existing need to regularly complete your APCO reporting, how are you tracking and reporting your data? Are you still relying on multiple spreadsheets and never-ending manual reporting? At MSAC, we have created Addis®, an all-in-one solution to solve all your packaging challenges that has already been adopted by major industry players.  

Capture all your data in one safe place, automatically manage your claims and certificates, enable automatic volumetric calculation with all associated dashboards and reports, enable easy APCO reporting and track your progress towards your sustainability targets. Work with your suppliers and manage your data or let us handle all of it with our team of specialised packaging technologists. 

Get in touch with us to organise a demo or learn more: regulatory@msacsolutions.com 

Conducted in collaboration with End Food Waste Australia, the mixed-methods study found that clear, concise, and visually distinct date labels, combined with effective storage guidance, play a crucial role in reducing food waste. 

The research highlights significant gaps in consumer understanding of “Use By” and “Best Before” labels, particularly about food safety and consumer reliance on sensory cues. To address this, the study explored a range of design interventions, including the use of icons, traffic light coding, sensory testing prompts, text-based cues, QR codes, and freezing advice. 

Each labelling solution was evaluated for its barriers, implications, and the perspectives of key stakeholders. Consumers prioritised ease of use and waste reduction, while industry representatives focused on safety, regulatory compliance, and logistics. 

Based on the findings, the study recommends implementing: 

• Visual and colour-coded cues 

• Easy-to-interpret labelling formats 

• Consistent labelling standards across the industry 

• Flexible solutions tailored to different food categories 

In 2024, California passed a Bill (AB-660) to restrict the durability statements used on products to cut food waste in the state. This move standardised the labelling with only 2 options: “Best if used by” and “use by” to set clear standards for consumers. The movement towards clearer food labelling is expected to save 70,000 tonnes of food annually.  

To help improve food safety and reduce household food waste, it is being widely encouraged for manufacturers to assess their use-by and best-before dating, enhance their packaging and evaluate storage design strategies.  Evaluating and improving storage design strategies both in labelling and packaging, these combined efforts not only help reduce waste but also ensure food safety remains a top priority. 

The ACCC alleges that the companies engaged in greenwashing by falsely marketing their products with claims of “ocean plastic recycled” and “reef-friendly.” Despite these claims, the products reportedly are making incorrect claims with no substantial evidence.  

A step in the ACCC’s broader crackdown on misleading environmental claims in consumer products, the ACCC states that similar greenwashing claims could mislead environmentally conscious consumers and may lead to damage to marine ecosystems. 

The ACCC is pursuing the matters through the Federal Court, arguing the brands breached Australian Consumer Law by giving a false impression of environmental safety. The case may set a precedent for how environmental labels are regulated and enforced across a range of industries. 

If you’re unsure whether your claims meet current standards or simply want expert guidance, contact us today to discuss on regulatory@msacsolutions.com 

We offer tailored solutions, certification management software, and regulatory services to help you stay compliant, save time, and protect your business from costly fines due to unsubstantiated or misleading claims. 

The new policy aims to reduce children’s exposure to unhealthy food and drink marketing in an effort to combat rising rates of overweight, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. 

Research shows that children and young people are especially susceptible to advertising, and the majority of food and drink ads they see promote unhealthy options. Public health advocates argue that such policies are crucial, particularly around school zones, to protect children from the marketing of unhealthy products.  

Under the ban, processed foods such as chocolate, confectionery, desserts, ice creams, soft drinks, and chips will no longer be allowed in public advertising. In a more controversial move, the ban also includes items of fortified milk, ham sandwiches, and rice cakes. The inclusion of these foods has sparked confusion amongst both consumers and industry stakeholders, prompting calls for a more transparent, science-based framework. 

The policy also prohibits advertising that depicts junk food in social or celebratory settings. For example, an ad featuring a birthday party with a cake as a serving suggestion would be banned under the new regulations. 

This move follows similar measures introduced in the Australian Capital Territory and internationally, such as the ban on junk food ads on London’s public transport system. The campaign is expected to expand to the wider nation and include social media and other advertising platforms.  

To clarify the rules, the government has published an implementation guideline outlining which foods are permitted. Businesses unsure about their advertisements are encouraged to submit them to an expert panel for assessment. 

Packaging that meets the updated recyclability thresholds has been implemented to prevent misleading labels, enhance recycling accuracy and ensure and support a circular economy. APCO is encouraging packaging designs that facilitate higher-value recovery and align with global best practices.

For further assistance, MSAC offers resources and support to help businesses transition smoothly to the updated ARL requirements through assessing your packaging, conducting PREP reports, and updating labels for qualification. To avoid misrepresentation, businesses are encouraged to consider joining to ensure compliance and support sustainable packaging practices. Contact us today to ensure your ARL logos are meeting APCO legislative requirements.