Two peak industry bodies have joined forces to strengthen the sustainable packaging landscape in Australia and New Zealand.
The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) and the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) have jointly announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to align sustainable packaging practices throughout industry.
The strategic partnership will provide proof points for sustainability professionals regarding their packaging and sustainability credentials. This will be achieved through AIP facilitation and delivery of APCO focused educational courses that will be available to industry in 2024. The focus of the courses is on lifting skill levels, and recognising knowledge in APCO and packaging sustainability-related topics such as the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) Program.
Chris Foley, APCO Chief Executive Officer, said the partnership is a pivotal moment for APCO, reinforcing its commitment to building capability in Australia’s packaging system to transition to a circular economy
“Together, we aim to elevate industry knowledge, empower our members as well as the broader industry, and drive positive change towards a more environmentally conscious future,” he said.
“It’s important that sustainability professionals can provide proof points on their expertise in packaging recyclability. This is an especially important step for organisations who need guidance on who has the knowledge, skills and experience in assessing recycled content in packaging,” said Chloe Rose, APCO Head of Communications and Engagement. “We are very pleased to be able to offer this APCO capability evidence to the industry.”
The AIP is excited about the transformative impact that this strengthened partnership will offer the packaging industry.
AIP’s Executive Director, Nerida Kelton FAIP said that the agreement not only highlights AIP’s commitment to education but signifies a pivotal step toward a more sustainable circular economy for Australasian packaging.
“Together, AIP and APCO aim to elevate packaging knowledge and training and improve core technical competencies across the industry. This will drive positive change and set new standards for designing better packaging for the region.’
For more information, visit: www.apco.org.au
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