EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIAN PACKAGING COVENANT ACTION PLAN

Transcription

1 EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIAN PACKAGING COVENANT ACTION PLAN

2 Executive Summary Expanded Polystyrene Australia is the national industry body for all manufacturers and distributors of expanded polystyrene (EPS) products across Australia. The group was formerly known as Recycling Expanded Polystyrene Australia (REPSA) however the name change to Expanded Polystyrene Australia (EPSA) was adopted during the incorporation process in late 2009, to better reflect the activities of all subgroup sectors. Membership to Expanded Polystyrene Australia is currently made up of 24 members with manufacturing facilities across 45 sites Australia wide. Members include manufacturers of products ranging from packaging for fresh produce (fruit, vegetables, seafood) through to building and construction applications such as sandwich panels for insulation and under slab void filler pods as well as the raw material resin suppliers. The activities of EPSA are predominantly driven by those of its subgroup sectors: Packaging, Panel, Block and Pod. Expanded Polystyrene Australia recognises the importance of encouraging our members to work with their supply chain partners to meet the objectives of the Australian Packaging Covenant. The following Action Plan relates to activities of Expanded Polystyrene Australia and its Packaging Sector members. There are ten manufacturers of EPS produce boxes and five suppliers of the raw material used in the manufacture of these products committed to the success of this Plan covering the period Expanded Polystyrene Australia looks forward to providing continued support in assisting the Australian Packaging Covenant to achieve its Strategic Plan targets. Brendan Blomeley Executive Director Expanded Polystyrene Australia Page 1

3 Action Plan Expanded Polystyrene Australia (EPSA) is an Industry Association and as such is not a direct participant within the supply chain. However the activities undertaken by EPSA (within its Packaging Sector) are aimed at enhancing and optimising the use of EPS packaging - predominantly in the area of fresh produce. Goal 1: Design packaging optimised to achieve resource efficiently and reduced environmental impact without compromising product quality and safety In 2009, a campaign strategy to reverse the deselection of EPS packaging for fresh produce by the supermarket chains in Australia was initiated by EPSA. The goal of the eco6 Project is to positively reposition EPS packaging and create greater awareness regarding the environmental benefits of EPS. To date, the eco6 Project has developed a uniform EPS packaging system designed to be compatible with the existing supply chain systems of both major supermarkets in Australia. This new EPS packaging system has been developed in accordance with the APC Sustainable Packaging Guidelines. KPI 1 Implementation of Sustainable Packaging Guidelines for design or procurement of packaging Communication of Sustainable Packaging Guidelines to EPSA members EPSA will disseminate information provided by the APC to members however it will be up to individual members to integrate the use of the SPG within their manufacturing process 2011 Commitment by EPSA members to review their packaging systems % of new packaging to be assessed against SPG % of existing packaging to be assessed against SPG Goal 2: Recycling the efficient collection and recycling of packaging Over the past 15 years, Expanded Polystyrene Australia has established a National Collection Network to facilitate the collection and recycling of EPS in Australia. Industry appointed EPS Collection Centres now exist in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra. These Centres were primarily established to service the fresh produce wholesale markets (to ensure that all EPS produce boxes could be disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner) however have now expanded to accept all EPS products for recycling. In addition, all EPS manufacturers covered by this Action Plan already have established on-site recovery systems for recycling EPS packaging within their manufacturing facilities. The majority of EPSA members manufacture a wide variety of EPS products (not just produce boxes) and are able to incorporate in-house scrap as well as small amounts of clean post consumer/industrial scrap into various end products such as waffle pods and blocks. Page 2

4 Expanded Polystyrene Australia shares its head office with that of the Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association (PACIA). Recycling systems are already in place to handle used packaging (ie. fibreboard/ plastic). The EPSA office currently uses green energy and all office paper contains recycled content. EPSA is committed to a Buy Recycled purchasing policy where circumstances allow. KPI 3 Establish on-site recovery systems for recycling used packaging Collection of industry statistics National Collection Network EPSA has established contractual arrangements to ensure that all Centres report tonnage reprocessed and also figures directly related to the resale and recycling of EPS produce boxes Data is collected on a monthly basis 2011 onwards Reporting of data as part of APC Annual Report submission Collection of industry statistics EPSA members EPSA will issue an annual survey to collect data relating to recycling of used packaging from members 2011 onwards Reporting of data as part of APC Annual Report submission Promotion of EPS recycling The new EPSA website is currently being developed which will act as a portal for providing information regarding EPS products and their recyclability and also where to recycle July launch date for new EPSA website KPI 4 Implementation of policy to buy products made from recycled packaging Implementation of a Buy Recycled policy by EPSA members EPSA to formalise this into a written policy for purchasing EPSA will disseminate its Buy Recycled policy to members however it will be up to individual members to integrate the use of this within their own purchasing process 2011 Formal policy to be adopted by EPSA 2012 EPSA policy to be communicated to members 2013 onwards Commitment by all EPSA members to Buy Recycled where circumstances allow and establish formal, documented policy of buying recycled products or materials Page 3

5 Goal 3: Product Stewardship a demonstrated commitment to product stewardship by the supply chain and other signatories Expanded Polystyrene Australia and its members have demonstrated a continued commitment to product stewardship through the establishment and ongoing financial support of the National Collection Network. To date, the allocation of subsidies has ensured that all EPS produce boxes can be accepted at the Collection Centres free of charge for recycling. Across the National Collection Network, the Collection Centres have implemented a variety of collection programs to source EPS scrap from end users. Some examples include collection cages installed within the fresh produce wholesale markets and also at municipal waste transfer stations, small scale granulation equipment at back of store for large E&E retailers and the supply of scrap bags for ongoing customers. EPSA members also work closely downstream along the supply chain to provide viable recycling options for EPS packaging at end of life. The majority of members accept used EPS packaging (along with other EPS scrap) from both their customers and also from external sources for recycling. KPI 6 Develop formal processes for working with others to improve design and recycling of packaging Promotion of sustainable design for EPS packaging EPSA to develop promotional material to assist EPSA members in promoting the importance of sustainable design to their customers an information fact sheet on sustainable design to be developed KPI 7 Demonstrate other product stewardship outcomes Promotion of product stewardship initiatives EPSA will develop case studies to showcase product stewardship initiatives by EPSA and its members These will be featured on the new EPSA website 2012 onwards case studies to be developed on an ongoing basis Page 4

6 Member Companies The Action Plan relates to activities of Expanded Polystyrene Australia and its Packaging Sector members. There are ten manufacturers of EPS produce boxes and five suppliers of the raw material used in the manufacture of these products committed to the success of this Plan. Queensland Flexifoam PO Box 6437 Toowoomba QLD 4350 Phone Fax Norfoam PO Box 93 Innisfail QLD 4860 Phone Fax Townsville Musgrave Road Coopers Plains QLD 4108 Phone Fax Polyfoam PO Box 3334 Tingalpa QLD 4173 Phone Fax Ultrastak PO Box 557 Bowen QLD 4805 Phone Fax New South Wales Polyfoam Factory 3b M5 Industry Park 1 Morebank Ave Morebank NSW 2170 Phone Fax Chifley Street Smithfield NSW 2164 Phone Fax Scalora Bros PO Box 5 Tooleybuc NSW 2736 Phone Fax Victoria ANDPAK Koorlong Ave Irymple Victoria 3498 Phone Fax Frontier Industries 1-11 Mc Naughton Road Clayton Victoria 3168 Phone Fax Polyfoam (head office) 24 Dandenong Street Dandenong Victoria 3175 Phone Fax (head office) 2-4 Mephan Street West Footscray Vic 3012 Phone Fax Ultrastak (head office) 14 Quin Drive Swan Hill Victoria 3585 Phone Fax Shepparton Page 5

7 South Australia Valls Styrene Jury Road Berri, SA 5343 Phone Fax Peachy Road Elizabeth West Phone Fax Western Australia Polystyrene Industries 5 Madison Street Canning Vale WA 6155 Phone Fax Baldwin Street Kewdale WA 6105 Phone Fax Tasmania Polyfoam Huon Highway Castle Forbes Bay TAS 7116 Phone Fax Merino Street Kings Meadows Phone Fax Raw Material Suppliers BASF Australia Level 12, 28 Freshwater Place Southbank VIC 3006 Phone Expanz International PO Box 2250 Ivanhoe East VIC 3079 Phone Emerald Plastics 2 Advantage Drive Dandenong VIC 3175 Phone Prime EPS 29 Roslyn Road Belmont VIC 3216 Phone Sanwa LMB 362 Edgecliffe NSW 2027 Phone Covenant Contact Officer: Kin-Chun Ip Manager Industry Development Expanded Polystyrene Australia T: E: kip@epsa.org.au Page 6