The retail industry supports nationally-consistent legislation and initiatives which produce real environmental outcomes, while minimising negative impact on businesses and citizens.
Many retailers have been proactive in improving their environmental footprint for many years, providing consumers with access to more sustainable alternatives, in-store recycling, ethical sourcing, and company-wide sustainability policies.
The majority of retailers strongly support sustainable initiatives, but it is a complex and sometimes overwhelming challenge as we are faced with ever-evolving and conflicting research and regulations.
The National Retail Association is active across all areas of sustainability, representing whole-of-industry insight, educating businesses, and ultimately encouraging national consistency to accelerate environmental outcomes.
Key opportunities & challenges
Recycled content
Retailers and businesses are keen to use more recycled content in products and packaging, but domestic supply, infrastructure and standards are currently limited.
Retailers and brand owners in Australia are keen to transition to recycled content where possible and safe to do so.
However we need access to affordable, high quality materials made of recycled content here in Australia.
Currently, most materials made from recycled content are significantly more expensive than those made from virgin content, and we need commercially viable solutions which customers will embrace.
We also need traceability mechanisms and standards to ensure recycled content is clean, safe to use and verifiable.
Standards must consider international supply chains so retailers can determine the compliance of international suppliers and also align with other Australian standards such as food safety.
We support increased use of recycled content by governments through procurement policies as this would help build infrastructure and investment in the domestic market.
Food waste
Both businesses and consumers need to start implementing strategies to reduce food waste, but knowledge of this issue is very low in Australia, impacting incentives and ability to change.
We support the Fight Food Waste campaign and the national target to halve food waste by 2030, however we express concern given the EU achieved 28% reduction in 10 years with more extensive organic recycling infrastructure in place.
Many retailers and brand owners have been actively working on reducing food loss and waste across their supply chain for the past decade.
We strongly support the need for greater consumer and industry education on food waste as the issues and solutions are complex and will take time and innovation. For example, much of the plastic packaging used in fresh produce has been reducing food waste through extended shelf life and transport protection. Alternatives need to balance food waste and packaging goals to create net positive outcomes.
We strongly support Action Point 6.4 for local government to deliver FOGO collection to households and businesses though costs must be minimised to maintain equity.
The NRA is actively working with Stop Food Waste to support industry-led action.
Packaging
Businesses are facing increased pressure to reduce plastic packaging, but some plastic has a purpose, is recyclable, and alternatives need to provide realistic not tokenistic solutions.
Many retailers and brand owners are signatories to the Australian Packaging Covenant (APCO) and are actively working to achieve 100% of packaging to be reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.
However consumers and government must understand that challenges are complex and must be practical, commercially-viable and safe.
The NRA is working with APCO and related stakeholders to represent retailer perspectives and support practical, long-term solutions.
Single-Use Plastics
Single-use plastics in takeaway food are currently the subject of many discussions, industry research, and potential regulatory interventions, but alternatives remain limited, untested and challenging.
Source: https://www.greenindustries.sa.gov.au/
Business needs clear definitions of problematic, unnecessary single-use plastics, support to innovate, and time to trial options as many alternatives are still cutting-edge and untested. We need verifiable standards for retailers & brand owners to have confidence in ‘green’ alternatives. The optimal solutions need to create net public benefit and consider wide-reaching impacts.
Some challenges include:
Consumer behaviour – While we all try to remember our reusable bags, straws, cutlery, containers and cups, the majority of customers still demand convenient, disposable options at point-of-sale. Retailers have also seen dramatic drops in customers bringing reusable items since the coronavirus pandemic.
Maintaining food safety – Food and beverage items must be fit-for-purpose and retailers place food safety as the highest concern. Containers and tableware that contain hot or cold food must be fit-for-purpose eg. hot soup or curry in a takeaway container that won’t burn the customer or disintegrate before they eat it.
Assessing long-term impacts – More research is needed to ensure that today’s solutions don’t create worse impacts on the environment in the future. For example, switching to paper or cotton alternatives can increase carbon impacts, greenhouse gas emissions and depletion of natural resources.
Lack of public education – Unfortunately there are many myths and misleading claims. For example, most items made from compostable plastics must be processed in an industrial composting facility and create just as much harm if littered.
Contradictory regulations – Retailers are keen to invest in sustainable solutions, but current bans and guidance vary at a federal, state and local government level, causing confusion, fragmented supply and increased cost.
The NRA are working with government at federal, state and local levels, environment groups and related stakeholders.
Recycling
Businesses are keen to ensure product and packaging waste is recyclable but are finding it difficult to design for recyclability when recycling processes vary in every council area and consumer knowledge is low.
Recent research suggests that a high proportion of consumers still sort their recycling incorrectly, increasing contamination and the amount diverted to landfill.
We support the national target to achieve 70% of Australia’s plastic packaging to be recycled or composted by 2025 but given the current plastic recycling rate is at 16%, essential steps are necessary:
Widespread adoption of the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) to ensure consumers have consistent instructions on how to dispose of their waste
National mandated standards for kerbside collection programs so consumers gain confidence in sorting waste and that their waste is being recycled
Expand and invest in opportunities to recycle soft plastics
Time to innovate tested alternatives to plastic that don’t create worse impacts
Widespread consumer and business education programs
Support markets for goods that avoid waste or contain recycled materials
Product stewardship
Product stewardship schemes are increasing recovery of particular items but an unconsolidated model (one scheme per product type) is unsustainable for business and impractical for consumers.
Product stewardship schemes must be practical, cost-effective and feasible without creating significant burden on businesses and significant costs to consumers.
It is not realistic to expect consumers to return every product to a different store or designated point, and it is not practical for retailer to take back stock into retail stores as space, hygiene and logistical issues are still unresolved.
We are concerned that the model of ‘one scheme per product type’ is not viable in the long-term.
Some innovation in reverse logistics and digital platforms are promising, but work needs to be done to harmonise and resolve product stewardship challenges.
Consumer and business education
Businesses are individually investing time and resources into sustainable change and many consumers are becoming aware of their ability to create impact, but we all need consistent, practical information, resources and support.
Both consumers and businesses need more consistent and comprehensive data, information and resources to tackle waste.
eg. Recent research indicates that most people do not know the difference between ‘degradable’, ‘biodegradable’, ‘home compostable’ and ‘commercially compostable’.
Many businesses, especially small or independent businesses, have little time or money to spend researching such complex issues and solutions.
Retailers are concerned that education of the consumer will be left to retailers and their teams. Government-supported consumer education programs at a state and national level are essential.
There needs to be comprehensive, nationally-consistent support and resources to help businesses and consumers make informed decisions.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.
At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.
In our current economy, we take virgin materials from the Earth, make products from them, and eventually throw them away as waste – the process is linear.
In a circular economy, by contrast, we create circular, never-ending systems that redesign, repurpose, reuse and convert ‘waste’ into a resource that can make new products – and then the circular process starts again.
The leading experts on Circular Economy is the Ellen Macarthur Foundation though many governments and organisations are adopting Circular Economy principles.
The Australia, New Zealand and Pacific islands Plastics Pact (ANZPAC) was launched in May 2021.
In line with all the other national and regional Pacts in the Plastics Pact Network, members will work together towards the following 2025 joint targets:
Eliminate unnecessary and problematic plastic packaging through redesign, innovation and alternative (reuse) delivery models
100% of plastic packaging to be reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging by 2025
Increase plastic packaging collected and effectively recycled by 25% for each geography within the ANZPAC region
Average of 25% recycled content in plastic packaging across the region
The Waste Hierarchy is an internationally-recognised tool which succinctly shows a hierarchy for reducing waste from most favourable (reduction, reuse and recycling) to least favourable actions (landfill, incineration and composting).
Australia’s National Waste Policy
The National Waste Policy provides a national framework for waste and resource recovery in Australia.
Created by the Federal Government in conjunction with states and territories, the Policy outlines roles and responsibilities for collective action by businesses, governments, communities and individuals.
The National Waste Action Plan sets targets and actions to implement the National Waste Policy.
These targets include:
ban the export of waste plastic, paper, glass and tyres, commencing in the second half of 2020
reduce total waste generated in Australia by 10% per person by 2030
80% average recovery rate from all waste streams by 2030
significantly increase the use of recycled content by governments and industry
phase out problematic and unnecessary plastics by 2025
halve the amount of organic waste sent to landfill by 2030
make comprehensive, economy-wide and timely data publicly available to support better consumer, investment and policy decisions.
Sources
Read official documents from the Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Energy:
Brand owners and their supply chain are actively working towards ambitious national packaging targets.
The NRA calls on all levels of government to support this industry-led program and prevent local legislation from contradicting or halting this progress.
2025 National Packaging Targets
In 2018, Australia established the ambitious 2025 National Packaging Targets.
The Targets create a new sustainable pathway for the way we manage packaging in Australia.
The four Targets are:
100% of packaging being reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025
70% of plastic packaging being recycled or composted by 2025
50% of average recycled content included in packaging by 2025
The phase out of problematic and unnecessary single-use plastic packaging by 2025.
The National Packaging Targets apply to all packaging that is made, used and sold in Australia.
The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is charged with delivering the industry-led targets.
The Sustainable Packaging Guidelines (SPGs) is a comprehensive, publicly available resource used to assist in the sustainable design and manufacture of packaging in Australia.
The purpose of the SPGs is to assist Australian organisations to integrate the following ten Sustainable Packaging Principles into their operations. These Principles have been designed to optimise outcomes for packaging functionality and sustainability, and to help collectively deliver Australia’s 2025 National Packaging Targets.
The ARL is an on-pack label that provides easy-to-understand instructions about how to correctly dispose of a product’s packaging. The evidence-based label clearly identifies if an item of packaging belongs in the general waste bin or the recycling bin, or if it can be recycled, provided the customer follows a simple instruction. It also provides specific instructions for all parts of the packaging, such as a jar and lid.
Packaging must be assessed through PREP – an evidence-based online tool. When determining recyclability, PREP assesses if packaging can be collected, sorted, reprocessed, and ultimately reused in manufacturing or made into another item, across the majority of communities in Australia and New Zealand.
A recent survey showed:
64% of customers want more information about what can and can’t be recycled.
65% of customers consider brands and product producers as responsible for providing accurate packaging recycling information.
72% of customers want the ARL to be on all packaging, even if just tells them it is not recyclable (preventing contamination).
Four peak bodies have partnered to develop a SME ARL Program in 2022 to simplify information and help thousands of small and medium brands get the ARL on their existing packaging. Proudly supported by the National Retail Association (NRA), Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP), the Australian Food & Grocery Council (AFGC) and the Australian Government.
The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) works with government and businesses to reduce the environmental impact of packaging in Australia.
A co-regulatory arrangement establishes APCO and the obligations for businesses to manage their packaging waste in a sustainable way.
By becoming a member of APCO, businesses receive guidance on how to improve the sustainability of their packaging. They also agree to shared commitments and responsibilities to reduce the environmental impact of their packaging.
APCO has over 2,000 Australian business members from across the packaging supply chain, ranging from large multinational corporations to small local businesses.
They also undertake extensive research with universities and specialists, to ensure businesses, governments and consumers have access to the most contemporary evidence in the world.
Retailers across Australia have phased out lightweight plastic shopping bags, supported by consistent bans across states and territories.
There is overwhelming evidence that the modern consumer increasingly understands the impact of lightweight plastic bags on the environment. The timing for lightweight plastic bag bans compliments action which moves towards reducing the environmental damage caused by the widespread availability and use/misuse of such bags. For many years, many retailers have been proactive in this area, providing consumers with access to alternatives and in-store recycling common across many brands and categories.
As of 1 June 2022, all states and territories have banned lightweight plastic shopping bags with handles which are 35 microns or less in thickness.
Since 2017, the National Retail Association partnered with state governments to deliver our Business Engagement Programs which provide education, engagement and resources for businesses to manage their transition.
NSW (from June 2022)
VIC (from Nov 2019)
WA (from Jan 2019)* – see new ban details below
QLD (from July 2018)
TAS (from Nov 2013)
ACT (from Nov 2011)
NT (from Nov 2011)
SA (from May 2009)
To help retailers who operate across multiple states, the NRA created a website which summarises all bag ban legislation in Australia.
In 2020, the NRA developed the National Shopping Bag Pact with Australia’s peak environmental government taskforce (Environment Ministers Meeting) to provide a consistent but ambitious plan for sustainable action on shopping bags.
The Pact sets high standards for reusable plastic bags (including minimum recycled content, minimum thickness and bag fees) as well as standards for paper and fabric bags to ensure environmental improvements, rather than just increasing carbon impact or deforestation by using more virgin resources.
The Pact was reviewed by APCO, all states and territories, and the federal government. It is yet to be released by government.
Differences in local regulation
* WA is banning all plastic shopping bags with handles from 1 July 2022. This replaces the previous WA ban and no plastic shopping bags will be allowed, regardless of thickness or recycled content. The ban includes polymer-coated paper bags.
Retailers are taking action on single-use plastics, such as lightweight plastic bags, straws, cutlery, and other plastic items.
The NRA supports the phase-out of single-use, unnecessary and problematic plastics to reduce litter, however for these to be successful and long-lasting, these changes must be:
nationally consistent
fair for all retailers regardless of size
carefully considered and evidence-based
commercially viable and accessible
While some differences in timing are expected between states, critical differences between legislation are halting or reversing environmental progress. We call on local, state and federal governments to work together so retailers can invest in sustainability with certainty.
Current & upcoming plastic bans
Governments in multiple states and territories are currently either implementing or considering bans on a range of plastic items including:
plastic straws
plastic cutlery
plastic stirrers
plastic plates/bowls
plastic cups
plastic-lined coffee cups
plastic takeaway containers
plastic shopping bags
plastic produce bags
degradable / oxo-degradable plastics
balloons
The National Retail Association is an active member of all state government taskforces and advisory groups.
We work with the whole supply chain – retailers, suppliers, recyclers, waste collection, activist groups, producers and charities – to bring unique insight, technical knowledge, practical experience and international evidence to help inform government policy decisions.
Our goal is to enable sustainable change that is practical, accessible, fair, and ultimately better for the environment rather than greenwashing.
Download our Summary Table on current and proposed legislation affecting plastic (link updated regularly).
Multiple states and territories have introduced Container Deposit / Refund Schemes (CDS) schemes which are now creating significant environmental change, as well as a new Australian economy in plastic recycling. These schemes involve extensive government and business collaboration and are proving to be highly successful in reducing litter and increasing recycling.
Environmental impact is becoming a key consideration when customers decide whether to buy a particular product over that of a competitor. Consumers are increasingly discerning in terms of product materials, packaging, and the retail supply chain in terms of carbon footprint, sustainable and ethical sourcing, product stewardship (end-of-life) and waste products. Recent regulatory interventions, such as bag bans, have demonstrated high levels of public support.
Regulatory demand
As the public demands more change, sustainability and environmental impact is an increasing focus for local, state and national governments, not only in Australia, but across the world. The challenge for retailers is the need for a consistent regulatory approach across jurisdictions and across all types of retail businesses to reduce complexity, minimise costs and provide clear messages to their teams and customers.
Employee demand
As with many sectors, there is increased pressure to improve sustainability from employees within retail businesses. Many retailers are starting to promote their sustainability credentials to attract and retail staff, particularly Millenials or Gen Y, which represent a high proportion of the retail workforce.
Though it can be challenging, retailers who ignore increasing demand from consumers, government and employees for more sustainable approaches risk declining brand appeal, increased regulatory intervention, and missed opportunities.
SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES AFFECTING RETAILERS
The National Retail Association is actively working with industry, government and community stakeholders on sustainability initiatives, including national waste policies.
The NRA supports positive initiatives to improve environmental impact across the retail industry, however these changes must be:
nationally consistent
fair for all retailers regardless of size
carefully considered and researched
commercially viable and realistic
supported by retailer & consumer education
supported by investment in Australian infrastructure & innovation
We applaud the Australian Government, the states/territories, and local government involved in the National Waste Policy Action Plan for the recognition of the complex challenges and for launching a national pathway for government, industry and consumers.
A snapshot of current opportunities and challenges for the retail and food service industry:
Recycled content
Retailers and businesses are keen to use more recycled content in products and packaging, but domestic supply, infrastructure and standards are currently limited.
Retailers and brand owners in Australia are keen to transition to recycled content where possible and safe to do so.
However we need access to affordable, high quality materials made of recycled content here in Australia.
Currently, most materials made from recycled content are significantly more expensive than those made from virgin content, and we need commercially viable solutions which customers will embrace.
We also need traceability mechanisms and standards to ensure recycled content is clean, safe to use and verifiable.
Standards must consider international supply chains so retailers can determine the compliance of international suppliers and also align with other Australian standards such as food safety.
We support increased use of recycled content by governments through procurement policies as this would help build infrastructure and investment in the domestic market.
Food waste
Both businesses and consumers need to start implementing strategies to reduce food waste, but knowledge of this issue is very low in Australia, impacting incentives and ability to change.
We support the Fight Food Waste campaign and the national target to halve food waste by 2030, however we express concern given the EU achieved 28% reduction in 10 years with more extensive organic recycling infrastructure in place.
Many retailers and brand owners have been actively working on reducing food loss and waste across their supply chain for the past decade.
We strongly support the need for greater consumer and industry education on food waste as the issues and solutions are complex and will take time and innovation. For example, much of the plastic packaging used in fresh produce has been reducing food waste through extended shelf life and transport protection. Alternatives need to balance food waste and packaging goals to create net positive outcomes.
We strongly support Action Point 6.4 for local government to deliver FOGO collection to households and businesses though costs must be minimised to maintain equity.
Businesses are facing increased pressure to reduce plastic packaging, but some plastic has a purpose, is recyclable, and alternatives need to provide realistic not tokenistic solutions.
Many retailers and brand owners are signatories to the Australian Packaging Covenant (APCO) and are actively working to achieve 100% of packaging to be reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.
However consumers and government must understand that challenges are complex and must be practical, commercially-viable and safe.
The NRA is working with APCO and related stakeholders to represent retailer perspectives and support practical, long-term solutions. More info: contact [email protected]
Single-Use Plastics
Single-use plastics in takeaway food are currently the subject of many discussions, industry research, and potential regulatory interventions, but alternatives remain limited, untested and challenging.
Business needs clear definitions of problematic, unnecessary single-use plastics, support to innovate, and time to trial options as many alternatives are still cutting edge and untested.
We need verifiable standards for retailers & brand owners to have confidence in ‘green’ alternatives.
The optimal solutions need to create net public benefit and consider wide-reaching impacts.
Some challenges include:
Maintaining food safety
Barrier bags, containers, and tableware must be fit-for-purpose and have food safety as the highest concern.
For example, raw chicken or seafood needs a food-safe barrier to avoid dangerous contamination of other products.
Consumption behaviour
While most businesses can control consumer waste generated in-store, 70% of takeaway food and drink is consumed outside the store (ie. consumer controls disposal and therefore must have access to appropriate recovery systems which currently vary council-by-council).
Handling hot and cold products
Containers and tableware that contain hot or cold food must be fit-for-purpose eg. hot soup or curry in a takeaway container that won’t burn the customer or disintegrate before they eat it.
Current solutions for disposable items (eg. coffee cups) have limitations as they rely on return-to-store, singular stream collection or commercial composting. Uptake of reusable cups is promising but the vast majority of consumers still use disposable cups.
Assessing long-term impacts
More research is needed to ensure that today’s solutions don’t create unintended (or worse) impacts on the environment in the future.
eg. ‘Natural’ alternatives such as bamboo and wood may create more methane, require commercial composting and may result in land clearing or substitution for food crops.
eg. Oxo-degradable plastics have been presented as “green” solutions in the past but turns out that they’re worse as they break down into microplastics.
The NRA are working with government at federal, state and local levels, environment groups and related stakeholders. More info: contact [email protected]
Recycling
Businesses are keen to ensure product and packaging waste is recyclable but are finding it difficult to design for recyclability when recycling processes vary in every council area and consumer knowledge is low.
Recent research suggests that a high proportion of consumers still sort their recycling incorrectly, increasing contamination and the amount diverted to landfill.
We support the national target to achieve 70% of Australia’s plastic packaging to be recycled or composted by 2025 but given the current plastic recycling rate is at 16%, essential steps are necessary:
Widespread adoption of the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) to ensure consumers have consistent instructions on how to dispose of their waste
National mandated standards for kerbside collection programs so consumers gain confidence in sorting waste and that their waste is being recycled
Expand and invest in opportunities to recycle soft plastics
Time to innovate tested alternatives to plastic that don’t create worse impacts
Widespread consumer and business education programs
Support markets for goods that avoid waste or contain recycled materials
Product stewardship
Product stewardship schemes are increasing recovery of particular items but an unconsolidated model (one scheme per product type) is unsustainable for business and impractical for consumers.
Product stewardship schemes must be practical, cost-effective and feasible without creating significant burden on businesses and significant costs to consumers.
It is not realistic to expect consumers to return every product to a different store or designated point, and it is not practical for retailer to take back stock into retail stores as space, hygiene and logistical issues are still unresolved.
We are concerned that the model of ‘one scheme per product type’ is not viable in the long-term.
Some innovation in reverse logistics and digital platforms are promising, but work needs to be done to harmonise and resolve product stewardship challenges.
Businesses are individually investing time and resources into sustainable change and many consumers are becoming aware of their ability to create impact, but we all need consistent, practical information, resources and support.
Both consumers and businesses need more consistent and comprehensive data, information and resources to tackle waste.
eg. Recent research indicates that most people do not know the difference between ‘degradable’, ‘biodegradable’, ‘home compostable’ and ‘commercially compostable’.
Many businesses, especially small or independent businesses, have little time or money to spend researching such complex issues and solutions.
Retailers are concerned that education of the consumer will be left to retailers and their teams. Government-supported consumer education programs at a state and national level are essential.
There needs to be comprehensive, nationally-consistent support and resources to help businesses and consumers make informed decisions.
Consumers and governments are increasingly demanding industry action on sustainability. We believe collaboration, negotiation and coordination between stakeholders enable us to create practical, viable and commercially-aware outcomes for all.
The NRA supports positive initiatives to improve environmental impact across the retail industry, however, these changes must be:
nationally consistent
fair for all retailers regardless of size
carefully considered and researched
commercially viable and realistic
supported by retailer & consumer education
supported by investment in Australian innovation & infrastructure
The NRA Policy team has officially partnered with the QLD, WA and VIC state governments to:
ensure retailer concerns and real-world challenges are represented to government;
encourage nationally-consistent legislation that does not discriminate between retail sizes or types;
provide comprehensive education programs to help retailers navigate the new laws.
Over the past 3 years, the NRA’s Bag Ban Retailer Transition Programs have delivered:
education of over 30,000 retailers in metro, regional and remote shopping precincts across 3 states;
a dedicated tollfree hotline (1800 817 723) to answer retailer queries about the bans;
3 dedicated state-based websites to provide information that’s relevant and practical for business;
downloadable resources and government-endorsed signage to help retailers to inform their customers;
social media campaigns to celebrate real-world businesses offering more sustainable solutions;
large-scale marketing campaigns in QLD & WA shopping centres; and
investigating reports of non-compliant bags in QLD, WA and VIC to ensure all retailers are fairly held to the same standards after bans are implemented.
Retailer resources
A key part of the NRA’s Bag Ban Programs are 3 dedicated websites (see links below) which explain the bans in detail, provide advice on how to manage the transition as a business, and provide signage and resources for retailers to download and display in their store. The NRA team are also out on the street actively engaging with retailers about the ban, so there’s hundreds of photos on the websites so you can see how real-world retailers are managing the bans.
VIC BAG BAN
Bag ban introduced 1 Nov 2019.
The NRA officially partnered with the Victorian Government
to assist retailers throughout the transition.
GO TO WEBSITE
WA BAG BAN
Bag ban introduced 1 Jan 2019.
The NRA continues to partner with the WA Government
to assist retailers before and after the ban was implemented.
GO TO WEBSITE
QLD BAG BAN
Bag ban introduced July 2018.
The NRA continues to partner with the QLD Government
to assist retailers before and after the ban was implemented.
GO TO WEBSITE
Representing Retailers
The NRA plays an active role in bridging the gap between retailers and governments to influence, develop and implement initiatives designed to improve sustainability and environmental impact across the retail sector. We also directly engage and inform retailers about significant changes to regulatory requirements, and most importantly, how to manage these changes.
The NRA are currently involved in a wide range of projects, partnerships, working groups and taskforces to represent retailer interests:
Founder of the National Retail Sustainability Committee
Partnership with the QLD Government to assist retailers to manage and comply with the QLD bag ban (since 2017)
Partnership with the WA Government to assist retailers to manage and comply with the WA bag ban (since 2018)
Partnership with the VIC Government to assist retailers to manage and comply with the VIC bag ban
Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning (DELWP) (since early 2019)
Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria (since Nov 2019)
Industry Association Members of the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO)
Industry Member of SA Single-Use Plastics Industry Reference Group
Industry Member of WA Container Deposit Scheme Advisory Group
Industry Member of ACT Single-Use Plastics Industry Reference Group
Industry Member of VIC EPA Small Business and Manufacturing Reference Group
Industry Supporter of Moving the Needle (reduce textile waste) program
Industry Member of Battery Stewardship Council
To enquire about any of our projects and advocacy, please contact David Stout at [email protected].
NRA Sustainability Committee
The National Retail Sustainability Committee seeks to minimise impact on the environment, whilst maintaining reputation and meeting the current and future expectations of customers.
The Sustainability Committee aims to:
bring together experts from across the retail industry, government and associated stakeholders to continue the momentum of positive sustainability regulations;
consider the impact of retail activities upon sustainability, the community and environment;
consider the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives, such as policy and industry mechanisms;
contribute expertise to ensure sustainability policy is commercially viable and delivers sustainable outcomes;
provide a non-competitive forum for key industry and government stakeholders to network and share insight;
engage in the ongoing dialogue between peers and specialists via the NRA’s private Sustainability Committee Linkedin Group.
David is a highly-respected senior executive across a wide range of retail sectors including corporate affairs, operations, customer insights, finance, procurement, risk and regulation, stakeholder engagement, community and supply chain. He is favourably regarded as a bipartisan and ethical operative in best practice across retail and corporate industry, regional and urban councils, local and state governments, and is currently involved in multiple advisory groups / committees.
Project Manager, Policy
National Retail Association
As Project Manager in the Policy team, Ebony brings a strong background across the retail, textile, and hospitality sectors in project management, stakeholder relations, marketing and communications. Ebony provides project management expertise to multiple projects, including sustainability, product safety, retail crime and committees.
Lily Charlton is an experienced policy officer who provides a high level of professionalism and organisation. Lily’s remit oversees the delivery of policy submissions to government, industry committees, industrial commission trading hour applications and supporting government relations. Lily ensures the policy team consistently meets or exceeds key deliverables on a range of NRA projects across sustainability, retail crime, product safety and trading hours.
