The Australian Packaging Covenant (APC)

The Covenant is a voluntary initiative, by Government and Industry, to reduce the environmental effects of packaging on the Environment. It is designed to minimise the environmental impacts arising from the disposal of used packaging, conserve resources through better design and production processes and facilitate the re-use and recycling of used packaging materials.

 

The Covenant establishes a framework for the effective life cycle management of consumer packaging and paper products that will be delivered through a collaborative approach. It aims to achieve, with the help of all participants, a recycling target of 65% for packaging and no further increases in packaging waste disposed to landfill by the end of 2010.

 

Companies, Government Agencies and Industry Associations sign the Covenant and commit to certain responsibilities which contribute to achieving the Covenant Performance Goals and KPI’s. Anyone involved in the packaging supply chain is invited to sign the Covenant.

 

All signatories to the Covenant recognise that a co-operative approach between industry and all spheres of government is essential to achieving national consistency in the lifecycle management of packaging and paper and the implementation of sustainable kerbside collection systems.

 

It is important for Companies to remember that if they make a choice not to sign the Covenant they may be subject to regulation under the NEPM.