The APC Annual Report is now available on the APC website. The report outlines what has been achieved over the past year through industry, government and community groups working collaboratively to increase recycling and reduce litter.

The highlights of 2013 include:

• Yet another increase in the packaging recycling rate, with the 2013 rate at 64.2% up from 39% in 2003 (full recycling rates data is in the report).
• A continued reduction in litter based on the National Litter Index.
• A record number of signatories at 925 with a 95% compliance rate.
• An improvement across all key performance indicators reported by APC signatories.
• In the three years-to-date of the current term of the APC, $55.4M has been provided in funding for 75 new recycling and litter related projects.

The success of the APC depends on the actions of our signatories.

We hope you enjoy reading about and sharing in these achievements.

In July we announced the 2013 high performing signatories. This group of APC signatories were awarded a streamlined packaging lifecycle assessment and presented with a framed award at two breakfast events in late August. A video and presentations from the August breakfasts are now available on the APC website.

In early December, high performing signatories attended another breakfast (in Sydney and Melbourne) on the topic “What’s Measured Matters – Making the Most of Your APC Report”. The events included a presentation from NetBalance on value in reporting, and a panel of high performers discussing their APC successes and challenges. The events also gave an update on APC news and the final reporting results from 2013.

All of these events form part of the APC’s signatory capacity-building program.

To give signatories additional preparation time, we would like to announce approximate dates for the 2014 annual reporting period. The reporting portal is expected to open to signatories at the start of February, with reports due by 31 March. Reports will be assessed in the period March – June, with the results provided to signatories from July onwards. Signatory organisations identified for the audit will be informed in July, and the audit will be complete by September.

All signatories are reminded that reports submitted for the 2014 reporting period will be reporting on either financial year 2012-2013 or the 2013 calendar year.

We’re looking forward to a fresh direction for APC projects in 2014. We’re aiming to release targeted funding rounds in early 2014 and we’ll be looking for projects that meet the current priority areas of the APC.  Our focus will be on public place recycling and litter reduction, SME away-from-home recycling, and major commercial retail recovery. Our goal is to ensure that the applications for funding demonstrate impact and are an efficient time investment by both the applicant and the APC in getting projects to approval and completion.

We’ve developed some tools and resources to assist our project recipients deliver their projects, and to assist potential applicants to understand what the APC expects in its project delivery.  These will be available shortly on the APC website.

In the New Year we’re engaging with each of the state governments to ascertain state based funding priorities, and to identify co-funded project ideas for other targeted funding rounds.

You can read about this year's projects activity, and the 2014 strategic direction in the 2013 Annual Report. If you have any questions or comments please contact the projects team.

The next Business Clean Up Day will be held in February 2014. In 2013, representatives from 19 signatory organisations participated, with over 300 bags of litter collected from across 35 sites. You can read more details in the APC Annual Report.

As always, the APC will be participating in Business Clean Up Day and we hope to be joined by even more of our signatories in 2014. Further details of the event will be sent out closer to the date.

A reminder to please let us know if your APC contact officer’s details have changed: we generally keep two contacts on file.

We will also be issuing new registration certificates for APC Signatories in January along with invoices (declaration forms need to be returned to us before Thursday 19 December 2013). If the name of your GM or CEO has changed please email Sandra Broadfoot.

The APC held Feedback Forums in Sydney and Melbourne in the first week of December, with a range of consultants who work with our signatories. These forums were designed to help consultants deliver improved outcomes to APC signatories through knowledge of the APC, and to get feedback on how the APC might provide better information and services to signatories.

The APC would like to congratulate all winners and finalists of the 2013 Australian Packaging Awards.  This year the APC also sponsored the Overall Award for Sustainability, won by Coca-Cola Amatil for their 600ml Powerade Sport Bottle design.  To be eligible for this award, entrants were required to be signatories to the APC and address the principles of the Sustainable Packaging Guidelines.  Amcor Flexibles Australia and BioPak also received Highly Commended recognition for the sustainability criteria of their entries.

The Resource Efficiency Assist Program aims to help businesses in Victoria and South Australia with fewer than 200 employees to cut costs and boost productivity by offering a range of free services including energy assessments, master classes, site visits and more.

“Companies, in particular small-to-medium sized businesses, often lack the time and resources required to improve resource efficiency,” said Ai Group’s Victorian Director, Tim Piper. “This important initiative will help overcome this barrier by providing both onsite assistance as well as training on energy and materials efficiency.”

This program is provided by Ai Group in conjunction with Sustainability Victoria, City West Water and Zero Waste SA. For further information, contact Ai Group’s Environment and Energy Help Desk on 1300 733 752 or environment@aigroup.asn.au, or visit: www.resourceefficiency.aigroup.com.au.

The APC Council and Secretariat wish all of our signatories and stakeholders the best for the festive season.

Our office will be closed from 1pm Tuesday 24 December and will reopen on Thursday 2 January.

Have a safe and happy break and we look forward to working with you in 2014.

On average, each Australian will produce over 350 kilograms of waste every year, and it’s widely acknowledged that Christmas creates a surge in food, packaging, and product waste. Last year three in ten people said they received a gift they didn’t want, many of which went straight from the manufacturer to landfill without ever being used.

To reduce your impact on the environment this Christmas, consider giving ‘green’ gifts, like those which focus on an experience – for example, concert tickets, a massage voucher, a whale watching tour, or a donation to a charity – or even hand-made edibles, such as gingerbread, preserves, and fruit cake. For the elderly, a gift of your time may be the thing they want most. And when it comes to the packaging, remember to go easy on the gift wrap, reuse prior wrap if possible, or skip it entirely. Maybe you could start a tradition of using personalised re-usable gift bags, boxes, Santa sacks or decorated pillowcases, or try other inventive options like wrapping in fabric remnants, a tea towel, or even Christmas catalogues?