1. GENERAL
1.1. WHAT IS THE ANZPAC PLASTICS PACT?
The ANZPAC Plastics Pact is a platform for committed and ambitious governments and organisations spearheading the transition towards a circular economy for plastic packaging. The program will be an essential enabler to mobilise organisations and governments that are part of the plastics supply chain in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
1.2. WHY DO WE NEED THE ANZPAC PLASTICS PACT?
Today, only 18% of all plastic packaging used in Australia is recovered for future use. In New Zealand, households are sending 41% of their recyclable plastic containers to landfill when it could be recycled while in the Pacific Islands, over 300,000 tonnes of waste plastic is generated each year. These low recovery rates mean that significant volumes of plastic waste end up in landfill and enter our natural environments.
To deliver meaningful change on plastics, our region needs a significant intervention that coordinates and unites all stakeholders behind a clear and consistent approach. ANZPAC provides this framework and seeks to address the international nature of the issues related to managing plastic packaging, by providing a consistent approach for plastic waste already
travelling across our borders.
ANZPAC represents a true collaboration, bringing together Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Island nations to strive toward a common vision with a concrete set of innovative and ambitious regional targets.
1.3. HOW DOES THE ANZPAC PLASTICS PACT FIT INTO THE GLOBAL PACT NETWORK?
ANZPAC joins 1,000+ organisations united behind the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Plastics Pact network, a globally aligned response to plastic waste and pollution, that enables vital knowledge sharing and co-ordinated action. ANZPAC, covering Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, is the first in the Oceania region and the second regional Plastics Pact to become part of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s global Plastics Pact network, with Pacts in Africa, Europe, Latin America and North America.
1.4. HOW WILL THE ANZPAC PLASTICS PACT BE GOVERNED FAIRLY ACROSS THE REGION?
A Collective Action Group (CAG) will be established to provide strategic input and guidance and support the delivery of the ANZPAC Program. The ANZPAC CAG will comprise a team of leading industry, government and civil society representatives from across the supply chain who oversee the progress of the ANZPAC Program. Each geographical area of Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands will be represented.
ANZPAC CAG participants are required to be senior level executives, government representatives or civil society experts with a deep experience in their chosen field and extensive business acumen. Important attributes for all participants is a willingness to contribute to a collaborative forum, the ability to think independently and an appreciation for the complex interdependencies of the region’s plastics ecosystem. Individuals with the ability to apply systemic thinking to complex supply and demand modelling will be particularly well suited. Experience driving multifaceted stakeholder and communication strategies will also be beneficial in applying the end-to-end lifecycle values required to progress the objectives of the ANZPAC CAG.
2. TARGETS
2.1. WHAT ARE THE ANZPAC PLASTICS PACT TARGETS?
Members of the ANZPAC Plastics Pact will deliver efforts to contribute to the achievement of the following regional targets by 2025:
1. Eliminate unnecessary and problematic plastic packaging through redesign, innovation and alternative (reuse) delivery models.
2. 100% of plastic packaging to be reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging by 2025.
3. Increase the current volume of plastic packaging collected and effectively recycled by at least 25% for each geography within the ANZPAC region.
4. Average of 25% recycled content in plastic packaging across the region.
During the first year of the Pact, a roadmap to achieving the targets will be created. These targets cover the whole region and are not to be confused with national targets.
2.2. WHAT LEVELS OF PLASTIC PACKAGING DO THESE TARGETS APPLY TO?
All packaging – primary, secondary and tertiary – will be included in the targets.
2.3. DOES PACKAGING INCLUDE SINGLE-USE PLASTIC PRODUCTS THEMSELVES?
We are currently reviewing definitions for ANZPAC to determine if single-use plastic products such as straws, cutlery, cotton buds etc. are included within the definitions of packaging for ANZPAC reporting purposes.
2.4. HOW WILL RECYCLED CONTENT BE MEASURED?
For ANZPAC Plastics Pact reporting purposes, proposed questions to help measure progress towards the Pact Targets will include a series of qualitative and quantitative questions. These include but are not limited to:
Provide details on the source of plastic in your packaging (whether it be recycled content or virgin material) as a percentage of total
packaging weight.
Describe the activities and progress you have made to increase your percentage of postconsumer recycled content (on average and by weight) across all plastic packaging by 2025.
While the Pact’s proposed target 4 (average of 25% recycled content in plastic packaging across the ANZPAC region) relates to postconsumer recycled content only, questions on pre-consumer recycled content used in packaging may also be asked.
Please note that different organisations will be asked different questions in relation to recycled content to help gain a greater understanding of recycled content within the region.
2.5. IS THERE ANY SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY BASED INITIATIVES?
We are always seeking new ideas for potential projects to deliver through the ANZPAC Plastics Pact. If you have any information about an initiative which would contribute to the Pact targets – please send this information through to anzpac@apco.org.au
3. Membership
3.1. HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?
Submit your Membership application form online.
3.2. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BEING A MEMBER OF THE ANZPAC PLASTICS PACT?
The ANZPAC Program supplements the regional and global activities already underway with cross country innovation, investment and knowledge sharing. ANZPAC is the principal initiative bringing together leading organisations, governments and supply chain stakeholders to accelerate the transition towards a circular economy for plastics in the Oceania region.
Members of ANZPAC will:
Innovate to support technological, design and market place initiatives that drive the individual and collaborative use of reusable, recyclable, and compostable plastics and eliminate problematic and unnecessary plastic packaging.
Invest in systems to drive at scale solutions for reuse opportunities and recyclable plastic materials through a sectoral focus on specific material projects to establish circular approaches.
Knowledge share and collaborate with stakeholders on key issues, harmonise where possible and drive the research approach for circular plastics in the region.
ANZPAC will provide its Members with:
Access to ANZPAC Member only resources.
Access to Plastics Pact network resources, events, webinars, project outcomes etc.
Invitation to join Australian, New Zealand, Pacific Island and cross regional projects teams.
Access to valuable data regarding plastics.
The ability to demonstrate progress towards the targets.
Access to participate in future collaborative projects.
A seat at the table to work with Government and Businesses to overcome barriers.
Invitations join working groups, project teams and the ANZPAC CAG.
Access to an ANZPAC Plastics Pact Membership icon.
Access to regular communication via the ANZPAC Newsletter.
3.3. HOW WILL MEMBERSHIP FEES BE USED?
Membership fees will contribute to the costs of the working groups, individual engagement, progress measurement, collaborative projects, evidence and tools.
Members of ANZPAC are invoiced annually (July-June), with the first year prorated to the month joined.
3.4. HOW DO NGOS, INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ACADEMIA GET INVOLVED? WOULD THEY ALSO SIGN UP AS MEMBERS?
The ANZPAC Plastics Pact will have two Membership types:
ANZPAC Members
ANZPAC Supporters
Access available to different events, resources and activities etc. will depend on the different Membership types. Organisations classified as NGOs, academia, government, community groups and industry associations can choose to join as a Member or a Supporter. There are no fees associated with a Supporter Membership.
3.5. WHAT DOES MY ORGANISATION HAVE TO DO TO BECOME A MEMBER OF ANZPAC PLASTICS PACT?
Organisations that are Members of ANZPAC are expected to support the vision of the circular economy for plastic and progress toward achieving the targets and incorporating them in to corporate and organisational goals where possible.
ANZPAC Membership will open on January 1, 2021 to register as a founding Member please contact
anzpac@apco.org.au
3.6. WILL THE REPORTING BE SIMILAR TO EXISTING APCO REPORTING REQUIREMENTS TO REDUCE DOUBLE UP?
For organisations which currently report to APCO, APCO will endeavour to align data entry for APCO Annual Reports and ANZPAC reporting where possible.
3.7. WHAT ARE MY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AS AN ANZPAC MEMBER?
Through reporting, ANZPAC will demonstrate its progress towards targets, publishing a public annual report, highlight best practice and share valuable data and learning about plastics within the region and global community.
ANZPAC Members will report on their plastic packaging every year to demonstrate their progress. During the first year of the Pact, a reporting system will be trialled and delivered to support Members to develop their annual reports.
A series of training opportunities and resources will also be
made available.
Information collected through annual reports will be collated and reported upon as a region. This information will be presented as aggregated and anonymised data. It should be noted that individual organisational progress in the form of case studies/stories etc that provide qualitative progress and/or actions may be publicly reported.
3.8. IF WE ARE ALREADY A MEMBER OF THE ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDATION AND OTHER REGIONAL OR NATIONAL PLASTICS PACTS, WILL WE NEED TO COMPLETE REPORTS FOR EACH PACT?
Members of the both the ANZPAC Plastics Pact and other Plastics Pacts will be required to report to each Plastics Pact separately.
N.B. Individual organisational progress in the form of case studies that provide qualitative progress and/or actions may be publicly reported.