02 | 2008

Politics
Towards a bioplastics
boom in Australia
Article contributed by
Fleur Wilkins,
Marketing & Communications,
Plantic Technologies Limited
Agricultural film made of Mater-Bi,
Photo: Novamont
Australians are among the world’s best in plastics recycling
and retailers are becoming more and more focused on a sustainable
future. Yet the world’s non-renewable energy sources
are depleting at an amazing speed and further steps need to be
taken towards adopting more ecosensitive packaging technologies.
The Recycling Revolution
Australians are concerned about the environment and being environmentally
responsible is now more important to Australian consumers
than ever before. This became evident in an independent
national survey that found the recycling rate for plastics packaging
in Australia has equaled last year’s record result and continues to
meet environmental improvement commitments. The Plastics and
Chemicals Industries Association (PACIA) 2007 National Plastics
Recycling Survey found that during 2006, Australian industry and
consumers recycled a record 30.5% of plastics packaging for the
second consecutive year. The overall plastics recycling rate (for
plastics used in all applications) was 15.9%.
Whilst this is an excellent result, there is still more we can do for
the environment.
The Role of Retailers
The two major supermarket retailers in Australia, Woolworths
Limited and Coles Group Limited, are aware that the adoption of
sustainable practices is increasingly recognized as a demonstration
of sound business operation and corporate management.
There is no denying that packaging is necessary to protect goods
from damage throughout the supply chain, enable more efficient
transport, and increase the shelf-life of perishable products. Both
retailers are actively working towards a more sustainable future, but
are they doing as much as their European counterparts in terms of
tackling the effects of packaging on the environment?
Coles Group Limited was the first Australian retailer to sign the
National Packaging Covenant in July 2000, a policy framework for
corporate environmental responsibility aiming to provide more effective
management of packaging. Coles were also involved in the
development of the voluntary Code of Practice for Plastic Supermarket
Carry Bags, in conjunction with Eco Recycle Australia and
the Australian Retailers Association, ensuring that participating
companies will minimize the use of plastic carry bags and provide
efficient in-store recycling means for these bags. Yet plastic bags
34 bioplastics MAGAZINE [02/08] Vol. 3