Proposals to strengthen National Packaging Covenant

A series of meetings around Australia will be held duing July - August 2004 to discuss strengthening the reporting requirements of the National Packaging Covenant.

This follows an independent review of the covenant that found the implementation and reporting of company and industry Action Plan outcomes needed tightening up.

The National Packaging Covenant Council has organised the industry consultation meetings to get feedback on the discussion paper prepared as a result of recommendations in the Nolan Report and similar conclusions by Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) research concerned with strengthening the covenant. The consensus view was that the covenant must:

• Deliver measurable outcomes in managing the environmental impact of consumer packaging;         
• Require signatory action plans and reports to contain detailed actions, outcomes, timelines and quantifiable performance measures;      
• Better utilise the NEPM process by improving Covenant Council assessment processes and jurisdictional enforcement regimes; and     
• Be adequately resourced and funded.

This consultation process does not necessarily commit governments and/or industry to a specific course of action. The National Packaging Covenant Council released the consultation proposal (see file below) to inform discussion on strengthening the National Packaging Covenant and to provide a basis for consultation and negotiation on the Covenant's future. 

Following input from stakeholders, the Council is aiming to provide its final proposal to governments in October 2004. The consultation process is now underway and will continue through August. It includes:

• Making available for comment the Discussion Paper:
• Consultative workshops in each State and Territory through July and August.
• Written Stakeholder submissions on the consultation proposal due by 6 August 2004 and addressed to:

Chief Executive Officer National Packaging Covenant, Level 3, 15-17 Park St, South Melbourne Victoria 3205

• A National Packaging Covenant Council meeting on 8 September 2004 to finalise its proposal for submission to Governments in October 2004. Governments will then consider the results of this consultation process in order to inform a collective decision on the future of the Covenant by April 2005.  

The Consultation schedule is:

1. HOBART - Weds 21 July. Federation Room, Rydges Hotel Cnr Argyle & Lewis Streets North Hobart;
2. SYDNEY - Thurs 22 July. Meeting Room 7, ABC Bay 8, Locomotive Workshop, Australian Technology Park Eveleigh (next to Redfern Stn);
3. MELBOURNE - Monday 26 July. Crest Room, Level Two Telstra Dome Docklands;
4. ADELAIDE - Tuesday 27 July. Stables Ballroom, Morphetville Junction 470 Anzac Hwy, Camden Park; 
5. PERTH - Wednesday 28 July. The Ballroom, Duxton Hotel. 1 St George's Terrace Perth;
6. BRISBANE - Friday 30 July. Sherwood Room, Brisbane City Hall, King George Square, Ann Street:
7. TOWNSVILLE - Thursday 5 August. Mercure Inn, Woolcock Street, Hyde Park;
8. DARWIN - Tuesday 3 August. Yet to be finalised.

All sessions run from 9am to 1pm.

Registration

Bookings for all venues should be made by contacting Edward Cordner, CEO, National Packaging Covenant on (03) 9681 6496 or by e-mail: ecordner@packagingcovenant.org.au

Packaging Covenant Discussion Paper (doc - 292 kb) Discussion Paper on strengthening the National Packaging Covenant

Packaging Covenant Discussion Paper (pdf - 125.5 kb) Discussion Paper on Strengthening the National Packaging Covenant.