Frequently Asked Questions
Most Common Questions
The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is a not-for-profit organisation leading the development of a circular economy for packaging in Australia. 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. Our vision is 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. To find out more, click here.
The Australian Packaging Covenant (the Covenant) is a national regulatory framework under the National Environment Protection (Used Packaging Materials) Measure 2011 (NEPM) that sets out how governments and businesses across Australia share the responsibility for managing the environmental impacts of packaging. The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is the entity in charge of managing and administering the Covenant. To find out more, click here.
The Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) is an on-pack label that helps consumers in Australia and New Zealand recycle their packaging correctly. Packaging can be made up of a range of different components and materials, each requiring different disposal methods. Some items belong in the general waste bin, some can be recycled, while others require special instructions to be recycled. Some items belong in the general waste bin, some can be recycled, while others require consumers to follow special instructions in order to be recycled. The ARL provides all of this information in one easy evidence-based label, allowing consumers to confidently and accurately dispose of their packaging.
To find out more about the ARL and the ARL program, click here.
The Sustainable Packaging Guidelines (SPGs) are a comprehensive, publicly available resource used to assist in the sustainable design and manufacture of packaging in Australia and are a central part of APCO’s co-regulatory framework. The purpose of the SPGs is to assist Australian organisations in integrating ten key Sustainable Packaging Principles into their operations. To find out more about the SPGs, click here.
Yes. The Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) Program is exclusive to Members of the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO). This means that both the ARL and the Packaging Recyclability Evaluation Portal (PREP) can only be used by compliant APCO Members.
To learn more about which APCO Memberships provide access to the ARL, visit our Membership Options page.
Yes. The Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) Program is exclusively available to Members of the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO). This means that both the Packaging Recyclability Evaluation Portal (PREP) and ARL can only be used by compliant APCO Members.
To learn more about APCO Membership, visit our Membership Options page.
The APCO 2030 Strategic Plan was unveiled on 19 August 2024.
The plan provides economic incentives for material circularity, establishes mechanisms to achieve National Packaging Targets, and enhances the social license for brands using packaging.
For a full list of 2030 Strategic Plan FAQs click here.
The National Packaging Targets provide a framework for collective, national action on waste management, recycling and resource recovery for our product packaging. They are:
- 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging.
- 70% of plastic packaging being recycled or composted.
- 50% of average recycled content included in packaging.
- The phase out of problematic and unnecessary single-use plastics packaging.