Why we need the Australasian Recycling Label more than ever

By Doug Whyte

What’s going on with recycling labels in Australia? And how is the ARL cutting down confusion?

Apparently the state of Australia’s recycling labels is a veritable “dog’s breakfast”. These are Pete Shimgel’s words, CEO of the Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR) – not mine.

But they may as well be. Because when I think about the countless experiences I’ve had trying to decode packaging labels to figure out what goes in what bin – I can’t think of a better phrase. Like many of us, I just want to do the right thing, but sometimes it’s just too confusing.

In the statement, Shmigel is referring to a recent report commissioned by ACOR and carried out by sustainability consultancy Equilibrium. The report found that 88% of the packaging components they sampled were recyclable, but only 40% had a recycling claim on them. 

It also found that 55% of imported products and 64% of Australian products displayed some sort of recyclability claim, 29% had the “Mobius Loop” recycling symbol, 29% had a resin code symbol (easily mistaken for a recyclability symbol), 15% had the Tidyman logo, and that overall, there was no consistent style, placement or sizing.

Dog’s breakfast may be an understatement. But here’s some good news – 23% of products had the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL). For both consumers and businesses alike, this is a really good sign (or label, more accurately). 

What is the ARL?

The Australasian Recycling Label is an on-pack labelling scheme for Australia and New Zealand. Part of the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation’s (APCO) Packaging Recycling Label Program, it was launched in 2018 in partnership with Planet Ark and PREP Design.

In a nutshell, the ARL provides clear and easy-to-understand instructions on how to correctly dispose of all parts of a product’s packaging. Sound simple? That’s because it is – and it’s exactly what we need. 

Cutting the confusion out of recycling helps us do right by the environment. When we dispose of waste correctly, we divert it from landfill and increase the amount of recyclable materials being repurposed. Plus, less contamination in the recycling bin means cleaner recycling streams. 

What makes the ARL different?


With over 200 labels currently in use, it’s a good question. The big point of difference is that the ARL is the only evidence-based labelling system on the market, and is powered by the Packaging Recyclability Evaluation Portal (PREP).


PREP is an online tool that measures how a piece of packaging will perform in the Australian and New Zealand resource recovery systems. Without a PREP assessment, a piece of packaging can’t even have the ARL on it.


This is important, because determining packaging recyclability is a complex game in which every small detail needs to be considered – shape, size, weight, inks, adhesives and materials.


But PREP covers all of this. In fact, it even accounts for how a piece of packaging fits into the greater recycling ecosystem, from the moment it’s picked up from the kerb, to when it’s sorted at a Materials Recovery Facility and in subsequent processing facilities.


By combining all of this info into one simple platform, PREP allows businesses to easily understand whether their packaging is recyclable, non-recyclable, or if the consumer needs to take extra steps to make sure the item is recycled. 


One label to rule them all


Let’s (re)cycle back to ACOR’s report for a moment. Anthony Peyton, CEO of PREP Designs, said the current confusion around packaging recyclability underlines the need for a nationally consistent solution. 


“ACOR and Equilibrium have done an excellent job in highlighting the “dog’s breakfast” that still exists with on-pack recycling messages that result in consumers being confused about how to recycle right,” Peyton said.


Given the confusion around both the “Mobius Loop” symbol and plastic resin codes, the report recommended removing them completely as a way of achieving clarity and consistency. In response, Peyton said the way forward is clear. 


“The ARL stands out as the obvious choice for popular widespread adoption.”


Brooke Donnelly, CEO of APCO, shared a similar view about the report’s findings. “They confirm something that the APCO team has long been working towards – the need for clear, concise and evidence-based labelling on every product and packaging type sold in Australia,” she said.


“We know that the multitude of different labels on packaging at the moment can make recycling more confusing than it needs to be. Fortunately, the ARL is the answer to this problem,” she added.

 

It’s picking up steam too. As of July, 436 APCO members have joined the program, including big names such as Coles, Woolworths, Aldi, Australia Post, Unilever, David Jones and Nestle. Not bad for a program that’s only been on the market for two years.


Donnelly echoed this. “This is an incredible achievement within a short time frame and the program is continuing to grow rapidly with more products being added every day,” she said. 


The ARL is also tracking well in comparison to similar programs in the UK and the US, and has been recognised globally for its clarity, reliably and accessibility in a report from the UN Environment Programme. 


A big part of a bigger picture


Better labelling is crucial to the success of meeting Australia’s 2025 National Packaging Targets, which include:


·        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


The ARL has an important part to play in all this. But according to Peyton, the program hasn’t been without its hurdles. As there’s a cost associated with changing artwork, getting medium-sized businesses on board has been tricky.


“While large businesses, plus small, nimble businesses, may be able to enact this change more readily, there is a large number of medium-sized APCO members that have either not prioritised the program or deemed the cost of change to be excessive,” he said.


“They also likely consider an artwork change to be unwarranted due to limited customer demand,” he added.


Beyond this, Peyton explained that, while at times difficult, greater education is crucial to the program’s progress. “I think that more information needs to be conveyed to consumers to build their faith in the evidence-based ARL program.”


Similarly, Donnelly said that “building a better knowledge base among consumers and businesses about sustainable packaging – and the importance of accurate and verified labelling claims – is an important step for growing the program further.”


“The overwhelming majority of businesses want to do the right thing when it comes to packaging, but there is some confusion out there about the best sustainable packaging solutions on the market and lot of greenwashing claims,” she added.


To help people make more educated choices about their packaging, Donnelly said APCO will be launching a new sustainable packaging consumer education campaign in 2020 – so keep a lookout on their website.


Over to you


The ARL is certainly doing what it can to cut down confusion, but are there practical things you can do too – aside from looking out for the ARL on products and following the recycling instructions?


Of course. You can use your voice. Whether this means telling your family and friends about the ARL, or getting in touch with your favourite brands to see how they’re making a positive impact.


Are they proudly sporting the ARL? What are they doing to meet the 2025 National Packaging Targets? What initiatives have they put in place to improve their packaging sustainability?


If you want to know, ask them. If you think they can do better, tell them. If they have no idea what they’re doing, give them a friendly nudge in the direction of APCO so they can learn more about the ARL program.


Beyond this, you can also use your purchasing power. If you can, support the brands and businesses doing good things – like using recycled content, and providing packaging that’s recyclable or reusable. 


Maybe together we can turn this dog’s breakfast into something a little more appetising?



Doug Whyte is a writer and copywriter from Sydney with a strong interest in environmental issues and sustainability.



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