11 August 2025 – Australia’s competition regulator (ACCC) has issued a draft determination supporting a new voluntary, industry-led scheme to collect and recycle soft plastic packaging, such as shopping bags and food wrappers.
The initiative, to be run by Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia (SPSA), will initially include Woolworths, Coles, Aldi, Nestlé, Mars and McCormick Foods. It aims to expand on current in-store and kerbside recycling pilots and divert more soft plastics from landfill.
The ACCC said the environmental benefits of the collaboration outweigh potential competition concerns, and is proposing authorisation for eight years with conditions to ensure transparency and prevent exclusive processor contracts. Interim approval has already been granted to allow the transfer of existing Soft Plastics Taskforce arrangements to SPSA.
Submissions on the draft determination close on 25 August 2025.
