Retailers embrace lightweight plastic bag bans, but call for national alignment

New laws banning the supply of lightweight plastic shopping bags with handles will come into effect across New South...

New laws banning the supply of lightweight plastic shopping bags with handles will come into effect across New South Wales on Wednesday 1 June.  The National Retail Association has been working closely with the NSW Government over the past few months to provide advice and resources to thousands of retailers,...

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NSW plastic bag ban guide for businesses

With a week to go until the lightweight plastic shopping bag ban, we're myth-busting what's actually being phased out....

With a week to go until the lightweight plastic shopping bag ban, we're myth-busting what's actually being phased out. NSW plastic bag ban Media reporting earlier this week has made it sound like all lightweight plastic shopping bags. This isn't the case causing unnecessary confusion for many small businesses.   What bags are...

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Retailers support NSW single-use plastics ban

The National Retail Association (NRA) has commended the New South Wales Government for passing legislation today to ban certain...

The National Retail Association (NRA) has commended the New South Wales Government for passing legislation today to ban certain single-use plastic items, starting with lightweight plastic shopping bags in June 2022. A second stage will follow with single-use plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, bowls and plates, as well as expanded...

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QLD businesses prepare for single-use plastic items ban

Today, the National Retail Association (NRA) joined Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon and Jess Pugh MP at Mt Ommaney shopping...

Today, the National Retail Association (NRA) joined Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon and Jess Pugh MP at Mt Ommaney shopping centre to remind businesses and community that the QLD single-use plastic items ban is just over a month away. The NRA says Queensland businesses are doing their bit to tackle plastic...

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Clothing textiles added to the Federal Minister’s Priority List for 2021-22

New to the Minister’s Priority List in 2021-22 is clothing textiles, as well as problematic and unnecessary single use...

New to the Minister’s Priority List in 2021-22 is clothing textiles, as well as problematic and unnecessary single use plastics. Reasons for inclusion In 2018–19 Australia generated 780,000 tonnes of textile waste, with clothing comprising roughly 39 per cent by weight. Only 7 per cent was recycled, with the remaining going...

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NSW plastics strategy will drive positive environmental and business change

MEDIA RELEASE  The National Retail Association (NRA) commends Minister Kean and the Berejiklian Government on their comprehensive plastic and waste...

MEDIA RELEASE  The National Retail Association (NRA) commends Minister Kean and the Berejiklian Government on their comprehensive plastic and waste strategy for New South Wales, announced today. By the end of next year, single-use plastics like lightweight plastic shopping bags, single-use plastic straws, stirrers, and cutlery, as well as expanded polystyrene...

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Expanded polystyrene phased out nationally

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) - in multiple applications such as foodware, loose fill and moulded packaging - will be phased...

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) - in multiple applications such as foodware, loose fill and moulded packaging - will be phased out over the next few years across Australia. This landmark sustainability initiative was recently announced in the National Plastics Plan released by the Australian Government. The Department of Agriculture, Water and...

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Tackling textile waste important priority for retailers

Tackling textile waste is an important priority for retailers with efforts now further supported by the Federal Government's $20...

Tackling textile waste is an important priority for retailers with efforts now further supported by the Federal Government's $20 million National Product Stewardship Investment Fund. Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management Trevor Evans is championing the stewardship program enabling industry to take up the challenge and drive solutions,...

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Helping ACT retailers to prepare for plastics ban

The National Retail Association is encouraging ACT retailers to prepare now for the single-use plastics ban which comes into...

The National Retail Association is encouraging ACT retailers to prepare now for the single-use plastics ban which comes into effect 1 July. In the last 7 days, the NRA team visited over 500 ACT businesses in their stores to provide advice and materials. The NRA is also providing a tollfree...

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ACT businesses to prepare for expected 1 July single use plastic ban

The phasing out of certain single-use plastic products will soon begin in the ACT. On 30 March 2021 the ACT...

The phasing out of certain single-use plastic products will soon begin in the ACT. On 30 March 2021 the ACT Government is expected to pass legislation which will prohibit the sale, supply or distribution of certain single-use plastic products. From 1 July 2021, the following three items will be prohibited from...

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Tasmanian Container Refund Scheme model announced

The Tasmanian Government has announced its preferred model for a Container Refund Scheme as part of its commitment to...

The Tasmanian Government has announced its preferred model for a Container Refund Scheme as part of its commitment to having the lowest litter rate in the country by 2023. The Scheme will see a refund of 10 cents for all eligible drink containers returned to a designated Refund Point in...

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New report: Packaging consumption and recycling in Australia

APCO has published the next iteration of the ‘Australian packaging consumption and recycling data 2018–19’ report today, tracking progress...

APCO has published the next iteration of the ‘Australian packaging consumption and recycling data 2018–19’ report today, tracking progress towards the 2025 National Packaging Targets. This is the second in a series of annual publications, originally launched last year, mapping the state and fate of packaging in Australia.  The current...

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New action on unnecessary plastic packaging  

The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) has published the APCO Action Plan for Problematic and Unnecessary Single-Use Plastic Packaging, designed to help Australia’s...

The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) has published the APCO Action Plan for Problematic and Unnecessary Single-Use Plastic Packaging, designed to help Australia’s packaging supply chain phase out problematic and unnecessary single-use plastic packaging through innovative and sustainable solutions.    The action plan will help drive the necessary change at each step of the packaging supply chain...

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NEWSFLASH – SA Government seeking urgent input on the single-use plastic legislation

Green Industries SA (GISA) are urgently seeking South Australian business input via a survey designed to benchmark awareness and...

Green Industries SA (GISA) are urgently seeking South Australian business input via a survey designed to benchmark awareness and knowledge of the single-use plastic legislation. South Australian businesses, especially those in food and hospitality, should take notice and contribute their feedback as this legislation will affect your business. Businesses can be...

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Retail applauds Woolworths ground-breaking sustainability targets

Woolworths, one of Australia's most popular supermarket chains, has announced that it will commit to source 100% of its...

Woolworths, one of Australia's most popular supermarket chains, has announced that it will commit to source 100% of its electricity from wind and solar by 2025. Peak retail body, the National Retail Association (NRA), has applauded Woolworths Group for its 2025 Sustainability Plan released yesterday which sets ground-breaking targets encompassing...

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Long anticipated WA Containers for Change launches today

The National Retail Association (NRA) is celebrating the launch of the WA Containers for Change scheme today.  The new container deposit scheme...

The National Retail Association (NRA) is celebrating the launch of the WA Containers for Change scheme today.  The new container deposit scheme aims to reduce litter, improve recycling rates and the create new business and employment opportunities across the state. In Western Australia, easily recyclable beverage containers, such as glass, aluminum and plastic, account for 44 per cent of all...

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