AIP sessions at Waste Expo 2023

The AIP will be continuing its partnership with the Waste Expo 2023, which is being held from 25–26 October in Melbourne.

Waste Expo Australia will be one of the country’s largest gatherings of waste management and resource recovery professionals and will feature 100+ brands with presence from both local and international exhibitors, providing a platform to discover the latest breakthrough innovations shaping the future of the waste, recycling and resource recovery industry.

AIP will be hosting a free packaging session on how to embed the 10x Sustainable Packaging Design Principles into your business, will be moderating a session on organics and compostable packaging recycling, and will have stand #102 at the exhibition. The Institute invites all Members and industry colleagues to attend the packaging sessions and come and visit the stand.

SESSION 1: The challenges of organic recycling, food waste and compostable packaging

Thursday, 26 October 2023

11:00–11:50 am

Theatre 2 (Show Floor)

The environmental challenges currently being addressed by the Organic Recycling industry cover three areas:

1. The reduction of the amount of organic waste that is going to landfill.
2. Ensuring the full value out of organics waste is achieved.
3. The cutting of greenhouse gas emissions currently produced from food/organic waste decomposing in landfill.

Food waste recovery through the household/kerbside collections Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) is the major focus for reducing the amount of organic waste still going to landfill.

Certified compostable packaging plays a role in assisting the recovery of food waste where the packaging has been contaminated and can’t be recycled. The challenge facing composters & certified compostable packaging is overcoming the government and councils’ current concerns with the additional contamination occurring from non-certified packaging and the use of fibre packaging containing forever chemicals like PFAS that are coming through industrial and FOGO collections schemes. Vistors are invited to join this panel discussion and listen to the experts discuss these current challenges facing organic recycling, food waste and compostable packaging.

Panel discussion includes John McKew, National Executive Officer, AORA; Natasza Letowt-Vorbek, National Executive Officer, Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA); and Rowan Williams, Global Advocacy and Sustainability, Biopolymers BASF. It will be moderated by Keith Chessell, FAIP, Education Team, Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP).

All attendees will attain 1 CPD point towards the CPP designation.

SESSION 2: Understanding the value of embedding sustainable & circular packaging principles through award-winning best practice case studies

Thursday, 26 October 2023

2.05–2:35 pm

Theatre 2 (Show Floor)

The Sustainable Packaging Guidelines (SPGs) have been designed to optimise packaging to make more efficient use of resources and reduce environmental impact without compromising product quality and safety. The SPGs are designed to integrate the Sustainable Packaging Principles (principles) into the right business areas to achieve the optimal outcomes for packaging functionality and to collectively work to meet the 2025 National Packaging Targets. ‘Sustainable Packaging’ is packaging that is not only fit for purpose and functional but also has a lower environmental impact compared to an existing or conventional packaging. Sometimes achieving the lowest possible environmental impact can be challenging, particularly when balancing various environmental criteria with the other functional and commercial considerations. This session will showcase how to embed the SPGs into your business through best practice award-winning examples.

Presenters will include Nerida Kelton FAIP, Executive Director, Australian Institute of Packaging and Vice President Sustainability & Save Food, WPO; and Ralph Moyle FAIP, CPP, Education Coordinator, Australian Institute of Packaging.

Image credit: iStock.com/sabelskaya