As National Recycling Week celebrations kick off around the nation, a new online packaging platform has launched today empowering small businesses to help their customers recycle right.
Did you know, 65% of Aussies want more information about how to recycle and will buy more from businesses that offer recycling instructions on-pack?
The ARL Marketplace is the missing link to help small-to-medium businesses (SMEs) get the support they need to navigate packaging sustainability and recycling, by providing access to Australia’s only evidence-based recycling label, the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL).
Trusted by businesses nationwide, the label gives consumers the confidence to recycle all parts of a product’s packaging responsibly. It’s also been proven to make Aussies better recyclers – when the ARL is used on-pack, consumers are more likely to dispose of packaging in the right bin, helping to lift recycling rates (2023 ARL Consumer Insights Report).
In 2022, the program was granted $4.5 million in funding from the Commonwealth government, to support SMEs to improve the sustainability of their packaging.
The ARL Marketplace enables SMEs to source packaging from registered suppliers like Pact Group, Zipform Packaging and Labelmakers Group that is ready-to-label with the ARL. It’s the easy way to take action on packaging sustainability and for SMEs to feel confident that they aren’t making false or misleading claims about the recyclability of their packaging. The Marketplace is also home to a range of educational resources designed to cut-through confusion and support SMEs to understand packaging sustainability.
“We understand that with so many competing responsibilities it can be difficult for small businesses to prioritise sustainability,” said APCO CEO, Chris Foley. “APCO is working to strengthen the recycling system and support SMEs through the imminent packaging regulations that will come into place – and one of those ways is through the ARL Marketplace.
“The ARL Marketplace offers Australia’s small businesses an easy way to take action on packaging sustainability and reap the rewards. Small businesses have a major role to play in improving packaging sustainability in Australia – there are 2.5 million of them that make up more than 97% of Australian businesses. By connecting them directly with packaging suppliers, we are making it easier than ever for small businesses to get the ARL on-pack.
“The ARL is a valuable tool for businesses to understand the environmental outcomes of the materials they are using in their packaging and plays a vital role in helping consumers recycle better. The Marketplace Directory is an important step forward in supporting industry to achieve packaging circularity here in Australia,” Foley added.
The launch of the ARL Marketplace is the culmination of a two-year education campaign led by the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP), the National Retail Association (NRA) and the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC). These leading industry bodies have supported the delivery of the campaign by engaging thousands of small businesses through information sessions, events and training to increase their understanding of the ARL.
Nerida Kelton, Executive Director, AIP said: “One of the biggest challenges faced by SMEs in our region is access to training and education so that they have the same equal platform to create fit-for-purpose and functional sustainable packaging that has the lowest environmental impacts. The ARL Marketplace provides SMEs with numerous learning modules created by the AIP that ensure that everyone can embed the Sustainable Packaging Design principles and the ARL on all of their packaging.”
Bonnie Marshall, Policy Officer, NRA) said: “The National Retail Association has engaged with thousands of businesses to encourage uptake of the ARL. Applying the ARL on pack will help businesses understand their packaging and what their consumers are looking for. We know there is an increase in consumers looking for more sustainable packaging and the ARL is an easy-to-understand labelling system that removes the confusion around where a product should be placed in the recycling and waste stream.
“Additionally, the ARL provides businesses and suppliers the opportunity to undertake an assessment of their packaging, to understand their impact on packaging sustainability and, to source ARL approved packaging, through the ARL Marketplace website.”
Barry Cosier, Director of Sustainability, AFGC said: “The Australian Food and Grocery Council is supportive of all actions that lower the barriers to recycling for businesses and simplifies recycling for consumers. This initiative helps small, busy manufacturers navigate a complex recycling environment and empowers them to make sustainable packaging design choices effortlessly, enriching both their operations and our environment.”
Visit arlmarketplace.org.au to learn more.
Nerida Kelton, Executive Director, AIP said: “The AIP is proud to have worked with hundreds of SMEs to develop their Sustainable Packaging Design framework and to help show them the value of using on-pack and off-pack communications. The ARL is an integral piece of the Sustainable Packaging design puzzle and we strongly encourage all SMEs to embed the ARL on all of their packaging. Using the ARL ensures that the recyclability of the packaging is truthful and there is no misleading information provided to the consumers.
“One of the biggest challenges faced by SMEs in our region is access to training and education so that they have the same equal platform to create fit-for-purpose and functional sustainable packaging that has the lowest environmental impacts. The ARL Marketplace provides SMEs with numerous learning modules created by the AIP, factsheets, animations, case studies and more that ensure that everyone can embed the Sustainable Packaging Design principles and the ARL on all of their packaging. The AIP is here to assist any SME with one-on-one training as well.”
Bonnie Marshall, Policy Officer, NRA said: “The National Retail Association has engaged with thousands of businesses, from retailers to small and medium businesses and Quick Service Restaurants to encourage uptake of the ARL. It is important for Industry to continue to work toward sustainable packaging and, where possible, apply the ARL on their products.
“Applying the ARL on pack, even on one product, will help businesses understand their packaging and what their consumers are looking for. We know there is an increase in consumers looking for more sustainable packing and the ARL is an easy-to-understand labelling system that removes the confusion around where a product should be placed in the recycling and waste stream. Additionally, the ARL provides businesses and suppliers the opportunity to undertake an assessment of their packaging, to understand their impact on packaging sustainability and, to source ARL approved packaging, through the ARL Marketplace website.”
Barry Cosier, Director of Sustainability, AFGC said: “The Australian Food and Grocery Council is supportive of all actions that lower the barriers to recycling for businesses and simplifies recycling for consumers.
“This initiative helps small, busy manufacturers navigate a complex recycling environment and empowers them to make sustainable packaging design choices effortlessly, enriching both their operations and our environment.”
ABOUT THE AUSTRALASIAN RECYCLING LABEL (ARL)
The Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) is an on-pack label that provides easy-to-understand instructions about how to correctly dispose of a product’s packaging. The evidence-based label clearly identifies if an item of packaging belongs in the kerbside recycling, the general waste bin or can be recycled provided you follow a simple instruction. The ARL Program was developed in 2018 by the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), Planet Ark and PREP Design. Since the launch of the label in September 2018, hundreds of organisations now have the ARL on-pack, including many of Australia’s best-known brands and retailers. The ARL is also supported by all Australian governments to make recycling easier.
To find out more visit: www.arlmarketplace.org.au
ABOUT THE ARL MARKETPLACE
The ARL Marketplace is an online platform designed to assist small businesses to find packaging that is both recyclable and can be labelled with the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL). The ARL is trusted by hundreds of businesses and provides consumers with the confidence to recycle packaging and ensure it ends up in the right bin. From the Marketplace’s online Directory, SMEs can source packaging from registered packaging suppliers that is ready to label with the ARL. The Marketplace also has a range of educational resources to support SMEs to understand packaging sustainability, including the importance of designing and evaluating packaging recyclability from the outset.
ABOUT THE SME ARL CAMPAIGN
The ARL Marketplace is part of the Small-to-Medium Enterprises (SME) ARL Campaign and received grant funding from the Australian Government to help SMEs enhance their packaging sustainability with the ARL. The SME ARL Campaign is an initiative empowering SMEs to start using the ARL. It has four partners including the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP), the National Retail Association (NRA), and the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC). The project received grant funding from the Australian Government.
To find out more visit: www.arlmarketplace.org.au
ABOUT AUSTRALIAN PACKAGING COVENANT ORGANISATION
The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is a not-for-profit organisation leading the development of a circular economy for packaging in Australia. It aims to create a packaging value chain that collaborates to keep packaging materials out of landfill and retains the maximum value of the materials, energy and labour within the local economy. It recently released a 2030 strategy to accelerate progress towards a circular economy for packaging, through the introduction of a new membership fee structure that will incentivise businesses to use packaging that has true material circularity, with the funds reinvested back into the waste and recycling system.
APCO works with governments, businesses and other organisations from across Australia’s large and complex packaging value chain to develop the insights, resources and programs that are needed to build a sustainable national packaging ecosystem.
For more information about APCO visit: www.apco.org.au.
ABOUT NATIONAL RETAIL ASSOCIATION (NRA)
The National Retail Association (NRA) is Australia’s most representative retail industry association which represents over 40,000 outlets from every category of retail. The NRA works across a broad range of issues including sustainability policy. They partner with various State and Territory governments to inform retailers of the respective plastic bans and partner with APCO to ensure more businesses transition to the Australasian Recycling Label.
To find out more visit: www.nra.net.au
ABOUT AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF PACKAGING (AIP)
The Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) is the peak professional body for packaging education and training in Australasia; helping to shape the careers of generations of packaging professionals — from packaging technologists to international packaging business leaders along with a host of people in associated disciplines — sales and marketing, purchasing, production and environment.
Founded in 1963, the AIP is the only professional body designed to provide professional and personal development to all levels of the packaging industry; educational offerings include the Diploma in Packaging Technology, the Certificate in Packaging, the Master in Food & Packaging Innovation, Certified Packaging Professional (CPP) Designation, Fundamentals of Packaging Technology course, half-day training courses, conferences, technical forums, site visits, Influential Women’s Mentoring program, internship program and more. The AIP covers Australia, New Zealand and parts of Asia.
To find out more visit: www.aipack.com.au
ABOUT AUSTRALIAN FOOD AND GROCERY COUNCIL (AFGC)
Founded in 1995, the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) is an industry association whose mission is to be the voice of the food and grocery supply industry and a valued service provider to members. Our vision is for a thriving and trusted industry that Sustains Australia.
They work with members to develop policy positions and represent member views to government, trading partners and stakeholders. They also provide members with a platform for collective action and provide information and insights to help them navigate complex industry issues.
To find out more visit: www.afgc.org.au
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