FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

1. GENERAL

1.1. WHAT IS THE ANZPAC PLASTICS PACT?

The ANZPAC Plastics Pact is a platform for committed and ambitious businesses, governments, and NGOs spearheading the transition towards a circular economy for plastic packaging. The program is an enabler to mobilise the plastics supply chain in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands to work towards a common vision of a circular economy for plastics.

1.2. WHY DO WE NEED THE ANZPAC PLASTICS PACT?

Today, only 16% of all plastic packaging in Australia gets recovered for future use, compared to 25% in New Zealand and 0.1% in the Pacific. These low recovery rates mean that significant volumes of plastic waste end up in landfill, is burned or 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 ambitious regional targets.

1.3. HOW DOES THE ANZPAC PLASTICS PACT FIT INTO THE GLOBAL PACT NETWORK?

ANZPAC joins 800+ 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 only regional Plastics Pact, along with other Pacts in Africa, Europe, Latin America and North America.

1.4. HOW WILL THE ANZPAC PLASTICS PACT BE GOVERNED FAIRLY ACROSS THE REGION?

To ensure the whole region has an active voice in shaping and governing ANZPAC, a senior steering committee of industry experts has been established to oversee the program. The ANZPAC Collective Action Group (ACAG) is a team of leading industry, government, and civil society representatives from across the supply chains in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. ACAG Members are highly experienced, committed to achieving positive environmental outcomes and willing to collaborate.

ACAG 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 are 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 are particularly well suited. Experience driving multifaceted stakeholder and communication strategies are also beneficial in applying the end-to-end lifecycle values required to progress the objectives of the ACAG.

2. TARGETS

2.1. WHAT ARE THE 2025 REGIONAL PLASTICS TARGETS (ALSO KNOWN AS THE ANZPAC 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.

These targets cover the whole ANZPAC region and are not to be confused with Australia’s 2025 National Packaging Targets which focuses on all packaging (not just plastic).  

During the first year of the Pact, a Roadmap to achieving the ANZPAC Targets was created.

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?

Single-use packaging is packaging that is routinely disposed of after its contents have been unpacked or exhausted or is not part of an accessible reuse system where packaging can be used again in the same application for which it was originally designed. This does not include single-use plastic products.

Although these are outside the scope of packaging, for ANZPAC reporting purposes, single-use plastic cutlery, straws, plates and cups should be considered when these are used for food service.

2.4. HOW WILL RECYCLED CONTENT BE MEASURED?

For ANZPAC Plastics Pact reporting purposes, questions to help measure progress towards the ANZPAC Targets include a series of qualitative and quantitative questions. These include but are not limited to:

  • Providing details on the source of plastic in your packaging (whether it be recycled content or virgin material) as a percentage of total packaging weight.
  • Describing the activities and progress you have made to increase your percentage of post-consumer 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 post-consumer recycled content only, questions on pre-consumer recycled content used in packaging are also 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, or fill out the Expression of Interest (EOI) form.

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?

ANZPAC supplements regional and global plastic waste reduction efforts with cross country innovation, investment and knowledge sharing. ANZPAC is the leading initiative that brings together organisations, governments and supply chain stakeholders to accelerate the transition towards a circular economy for plastics in the Oceania region.

ANZPAC Members will:

  • Innovate to support technological, design and marketplace initiatives that promote the use of reusable, recyclable, and compostable plastics and eliminate problematic and unnecessary plastic packaging.
  • Invest in systems that drive large scale solutions for reuse opportunities and recyclable plastic materials, focusing on specific material projects to establish circular approaches.
  • Share knowledge and collaborate with stakeholders on key issues, harmonise where possible and drive the research on circular plastics in the region.

Benefits for ANZPAC Members include:

  • Leadership position towards a circular economy for plastic.
  • Collaboration and networking across the Oceania region.
  • Access to knowledge and resources.
  • Collective impact through projects and activities.
  • Impact measurement.

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 Membership prorated to the month of signup until withdrawal.

3.4. HOW DO NGOS, INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ACADEMIA GET INVOLVED? WOULD THEY ALSO SIGN UP AS MEMBERS?

The ANZPAC Plastics Pact have two membership types:

1. ANZPAC Members

2. ANZPAC Supporters

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 IS EXPECTED OF MY ORGANISATION AS A MEMBER OF THE ANZPAC PLASTICS PACT?

Organisations that are Members of ANZPAC are expected to support the vision of a circular economy for plastic and progress toward achieving the ANZPAC Targets and incorporating them into corporate and organisational goals where possible. ANZPAC Members are encouraged to implement measurable projects to support this vision.

3.6. WILL THE REPORTING BE SIMILAR TO APCO REPORTING REQUIREMENTS TO REDUCE DOUBLE UP?

APCO Annual Reporting is aligned with requirements of Signatories under the Australian Packaging Covenant, and the Sustainable Packaging Guidelines. APCO Annual Reporting is dependent on the APCO Brand Owner Member’s turnover and industry sector, and Members must report on all packaging, not just plastic, as only looks at packaging in Australia.

ANZPAC reporting is different in that it focuses only on plastic packaging formats. ANZPAC Members must also report on the ANZPAC regions relevant to their business – Australia, New Zealand and/or the Pacific Islands.

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 Members demonstrate progress towards the ANZPAC Targets.

ANZPAC Members will report on their plastic packaging every year to demonstrate their progress. Information collected through the annual reports submitted by ANZPAC Members will be collated and reported upon as a regional Annual Impact Report. 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?

Businesses who are Members of the ANZPAC Plastics Pact and other Plastics Pacts will be required to report to each Plastics Pact separately.