Enabling design for environmental good – sub report – plastics

‘Enabling Design for Environmental Good’ is a project that deploys insights and approaches from design, innovation, and sustainability to propose a suite of actions to improve the design and specification of products, materials, and processes in the Australian context. The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (previously The Department of Agriculture, Water, and the Environment) commissioned an RMIT-led consortium, with Arcadis and One Planet Consulting, to run the ‘Enabling Design for Environmental Good’ Project (the Project). This is an extract from the original project report, focusing specifically on the plastics sector which was selected as it holds significant potential for impact on the Australian economy. For this report, the plastics sector is considered to encompass the broad plastics sector in Australia, including both packaging and products such as pipes, rainwater tanks, and garden furniture. This is because the supply chains overlap with resin suppliers selling to diverse product categories including packaging, and some reprocessed plastic material moves from packaging to durable products. Australia’s plastics consumption has grown significantly in recent decades to over 3.4 million tonnes per annum. While the growth rate has slowed, the recovery rate has been relatively static for over a decade hovering around 13-15% per annum (Envisage Works 2021). The high diversity in the types of plastics in circulation in Australia can create difficulties developing approaches for reuse, repair, and recycling. As a result, landfill rates remain high. Product stewardship schemes such as the Vinyl Council of Australian and the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation have developed targets, guidance, awards, reporting and labels for better design for packaging and some plastic products. Further drivers are needed to continue improving the composition, additives, labelling, and/or design of plastics, and products imported or locally manufactured in Australia. Improved Eco-Design and management systems provide a key point of intervention to reduce plastic waste. There is a high willingness within the sector for innovation and clarity on direction within the Australian plastics sector, including amongst those involved in packaging.