Nestlé and Mars Join Forces to Address Australia’s Waste Crisis in a Landmark Industry Initiative.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has proposed granting an eight-year authorization for a new industry-led soft plastics recycling scheme. This initiative, which will be managed by the non-profit Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia (SPSA), is a crucial step toward tackling the nation’s significant waste problem. The scheme will focus on the collection and recycling of soft plastic packaging, such as shopping bags and food wrappers, a critical issue for the wider agribusiness sector.
The new voluntary scheme brings together a powerful coalition of major food companies and retailers. Initial members include global brands like Nestlé, Mars, and McCormick, as well as prominent supermarkets such as Woolworths, Coles, and Aldi. This collaboration is vital for the success of the program, as it requires the cooperation of competing businesses to establish a coordinated system for collecting and processing soft plastics from consumers.
The ACCC’s Deputy Chair, Mick Keogh, described the initiative as an “important stepping stone” toward expanding Australia’s recycling efforts. The commission’s decision to authorize the scheme is based on the belief that the environmental benefits of diverting soft plastics from landfills will outweigh any potential anti-competitive concerns. The proposal also includes a condition for regular reporting from the participating companies to ensure transparency and accountability.
A key piece of data journalism from the article highlights the urgency of the problem: between 2022 and 2023, manufacturers used over 540,000 tonnes of soft plastic packaging, yet a staggering only 6% was recovered. This data underscores the immense challenge and the need for a collaborative, large-scale solution. The new SPSA scheme aims to significantly improve these recovery rates, moving Australia closer to a circular economy.
The ACCC’s proposal is a landmark moment for corporate responsibility and sustainability in Australia. The initiative demonstrates how major players in the agribusiness sector are taking collective action to address a pressing environmental issue, with the full support of the national regulator. With comments on the proposal invited until August 25, the scheme is moving forward with a clear mandate to create a more sustainable future for packaging and waste management.
Source: Just Food: ACCC proposes soft plastics recycling scheme featuring Nestlé, Mars
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