Declaration forms and annual contributions

We are currently in the process of finalising the invoicing of annual financial contribution invoices for the year end 30 June 2013.  If your organisation has not yet submitted a declaration of turnover, you are reminded that the deadline for submission was 28 September.  Please submit your declaration form as soon as possible in order to remain compliant.

Action Plan development workshops will be offered around the country in November.  If your organisation has not yet submitted an action plan or wishes to revise their action plan, you are encouraged to attend one of these workshops.  Please email apc@packagingcovenant.org.au for further information.

The annual reporting process will be outlined in an upcoming communication. Annual reports are due to be submitted online before 31 March 2013.  Unique online reporting links will be sent to signatories by late January 2013.

Signatories become non-compliant if they are not able to meet their APC obligations as described above. As part of the compliance process, signatories are required to be referred to the relevant government jurisdiction if they fail to meet these obligations.

A list of your obligations as a signatory to the APC is available on our website.

All signatories to the APC report against their action plans on an annual basis.  A total of 566 annual reports were rated as part of the 2011 annual reporting process, with an average company rating of 2.8 out of 5. Each company should use their rating as a benchmark of continuous improvement for themselves, however the APC is also committed to recognising significant achievements by signatories.

The following organisations were in the top 2% of those that reported and were offered a fully paid life-cycle assessment training package as a result: Baiada, Country Road, ITW Retail Group, Kellogg (Aust), Kingston Estate Wines, Lyondell Basell, McCormick Foods, Nestlé, O-I Australia, Pace Farm, Tacca Industries. 

We will be rewarding high-performers again in 2013: what would you like to see as a reward?

Email apc@packagingcovenant.org.au with your ideas.

The APC is currently developing a suite of resources to improve the knowledge of brand owner signatories regarding the life-cycle impacts related to common packaging materials.  As signatories to the APC, organisations commit to reviewing and assessing packaging to identify environmental impacts.  Many organisations, particularly SMEs, have expressed a need for improved resources to better inform packaging assessment decisions.

Based on ‘life-cycle thinking’, the Design Smart Packaging Material Guides will include a 5-10 page ‘checklist’ of sustainability issues to keep in mind when designing and/or specifying packaging for 9 common packaging formats/materials (paper and cardboard packaging, rigid plastic packaging, flexible plastic packaging, aluminium containers, steel containers, glass containers, composite packaging formats, degradable plastics packaging and packaging components/closures/labels).

It is important that the information provided is aligned with broader industry information. The APC is calling on packaging manufacturers, raw material suppliers, recycling companies and other relevant parties in the packaging supply chain to review the documents and identify any areas of concern.  Drafts will be released to interested stakeholders for expert review from early November.

If your organisation is interested in being included as part of the expert review please email Brett Giddings at members@packagingcovenant.org.au detailing the guides of interest.

Input provided via the expert review will be noted within the documents and appropriately attributed.

Australian Packaging Design Awards

The Australian Packaging Design Awards (APDA) is an annual competition for brand owners, designers, retailers, manufacturers and raw material suppliers to showcase their packaging creations.

Congratulations to our signatories: AMCOR, Lion, Colorpak, Detmold Group, Heinz and Kraft who were among the winners.

Read the 2012 results

Banksia Awards finalists announced

The Banksia Awards have recognised many valuable Australian's for their tireless efforts in making a positive difference to our environment. The awards aim to raise the profile of the current environmental issues facing Australia and recognise those whose initiatives are an encouragement and an example for others to follow.

The Banksia Category Awards 2012 comprise nine separate Awards; Indigenous, Education; Water; Land & Biodiversity; Leading in Sustainability - Small & Large Organisations; Built Environment; Clean Technology; Agriculture and Food.

Some APC signatories are among the finalists announced last month - congratulations.

Read about the 2012 finalists

Tokyo-based studio '"nendo" worked with the drinks brand to create 'Bottleware', a selection of dishes and bowls made from the greenish-blue glass.

Read more

We recently saw UK-based Studio Swine develop a technique for getting plastic debris out of the ocean to create the Sea Chair, tackling two environmental issues at once. Now Vapor Apparel is launching its ECO Spin fabric which is made of recycled materials that are taken from landfill.

Read more