The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) has released a new report Supporting Government Procurement of Recycled Materials aimed at driving Australian demand for recycled materials through the sizeable impact of government procurement.
The report outlines that:
- achieving the 2025 National Packaging Targets will require action throughout the packaging value chain, including expanding markets for used packaging;
- governments need to address challenges faced within their agencies when being able to source recycled materials; and
- Governments, not just businesses, have a substantial role to play in creating a circular economy.
Benefits for Retailers
Retailers may also benefit from the report’s detailed and reliable information on products and materials, including technical product information, local availability, standards, lifecycle impacts and sustainability/recycled content certifications.
As Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management, Trevor Evans, stated in the report’s foreword “buying recycled content is not just good for the environment but also makes good economic sense.”
The NRA is looking forward to working with retailers to identify the direct benefits in term of materials, cost and return on investment that increased government procurement of recycled materials may bring.
READ THE FULL REPORT