Australian Packaging Covenant DAFR-0EXWik Quick Guide For The Phase Out Of Business To Consumer EPS Instruction Manual
- June 13, 2024
- Australian Packaging Covenant
Table of Contents
Quick Guide for the Phase Out of
Business-to-Consumer
Expanded Polystyrene
(EPS) 
VERSION 2: JANUARY 2023
Introduction to the Quick Guide
DAFR-0EXWik Quick Guide For The Phase Out Of Business To Consumer EPS
The Quick Guide & Action Plan for EPS has been developed to support relevant
businesses with their phase out of businessto-consumer (B2C) expanded
polystyrene (EPS) as outlined in the Roadmap to Implement the National Phase
Out of Business-to-Consumer EPS Packaging (EPS Roadmap).
This Quick Guide will support businesses with setting out the relevant path
forward in the phase out, defining what is in scope, outlining alignment with
other EPS bans, and identifying a viable alternative for EPS.
Businesses can also find the link to the EPS Action Plan at the end of this
Quick Guide.
To read the Roadmap to Implement the National Phase Out of Business-to-
Consumer EPS Packaging, click the thumbnail below. Overview of the B2C EPS phase out
WHY A PHASE OUT?
EPS packaging is lightweight, durable and thermally efficient, but it
represents a number of challenges that need to be addressed. EPS is one of the
most common materials found in illegally dumped rubbish, presenting a
significant environmental hazard. It also has limited collection options, is
not recyclable through kerbside recycling in Australia, and it takes up a
disproportionately large space relative to its weight in transport and
landfill.
B2C EPS packaging was identified for phase out in:
- The National Plastics Plan
- The Minister’s Priority List
- Various state and territory singleuse plastic bans.
CATEGORIES FOR ACTION
In 2021, an industry roundtable reviewed existing packaging formats for EPS phase outs and the potential strategies to achieve them. These discussions informed the development of the EPS Roadmap. The review identified five categories of EPS packaging that require different approaches:
| Category | Item | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | Consumer EPS packaging for immediate phase out | Loose-fill packaging. |
Food and beverage EPS.
Group 2| Consumer moulded EPS packaging for medium term phase out| Moulded
packaging for small to medium sized electrical and electronic products.
Products in Group 1 with longer life cycles beyond 2022.
Group 3| Consumer moulded EPS packaging for product stewardship| Large and
heavy, fragile or precision products over 45 kg e.g. fridges, large white
goods, air conditioners and pumps.
Group 4| Consumer EPS suitable for reuse| Boxes for fresh produce – meat,
fish, fruit and vegetables.
Gelato tubs where reuse model is in place.
TIMELINE FOR PHASE OUT
EPS packaging in
and out of scope
| EPS loose-fill packaging
Packing peanuts generally used to protect products during transportation e.g.
void fill or cushioning in ecommerce.|
---|---|---
| Consumer food and beverage packaging Single-use hot and cold cups, tubs,
bowls, plates, trays and clamshells for food service. Trays to package fresh
fruit or meat for retail sale.
| Moulded consumer packaging
Protective packaging for white/ brown goods and electronics, e.g., computers,
printers, TVs, fridges, air conditioners, ovens, fridges, toasters, as well as
furniture and other homewares.
| B2C packaging in a proven reuse model
Closed loop delivery system (ability for back loading) e.g., bulk cold home
delivered meal services.|
---|---|---
Produce boxes (B2B)
Transporting fresh or frozen produce including fish, meat, fruit and
vegetables.|
Specialist packaging (B2B)
Medical applications e.g., organ transport or pharmaceuticals.|
Packaging requiring installation by a specialist
Where a consumer product is required to be installed by a professional
installer and the packaging is retained by the business.|
Decision tree
The decision tree below can be used by businesses to determine which category for action their relevant EPS packaging falls into. Refer to the definitions on the following page for further explanation of questions.
Definitions
| Category | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Large and heavy | A piece of equipment over 45kg. This weight does not include | |
| the weight of the packaging. | Examples of large appliances include |
refrigerators, microwaves, heat pumps, air
conditioning units, etc. These products are often referred to as whiteware or
white goods.
Examples of large electronics include large televisions, desk top computers,
etc. These products are often referred to as brown ware or brown goods.
Fragile| Items that could easily break when dropped without having protective
packaging.
Risks can include leakage of gas, chemicals or radiation, broken pieces
causing injury, functional damage where the product won’t operate as intended.
Fragile products can be measured as packaged product that regularly fails the
drop tests occurring as part of quality standard checks. Examples of regular
drop tests include procedures following ITSA standards
(or equivalent) including, but not limited to, the following General
Simulation Tests:
• Procedure 3A – Parcel Delivery System Shipments 150 lb (70kg) or Less
• Procedure 3B – Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) Shipment
• Procedure 3E – Similar PackagedProducts in Unitized Loads for Truckload
Shipment
• Procedure 3F – Distribution Centre to Retail Outlet Shipment 100 lb (45 kg)
• Procedure 3K – Fast Moving Consumer Goods for the European Retail Supply
Chain
• Procedure 6-Amazon.com| Glass, ceramics, porcelains,
clay, certain electronics, etc.
---|---|---
Category| Definition| Examples
---|---|---
Precision| A piece of equipment whose accuracy determines the quality of the
device, where it can be determined that there is a standard or code for
protective packaging and transportation requirements.| Items that follow
requirements for the safe packaging and
transportation of refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment with pre-
charged refrigerants.
Viable alternative| A replacement packaging that successfully provides
equivalent protective qualities as EPS.| Can be determined via the page below
‘identifying a viable
alternative’.
Product packaging life cycle| A product life cycle is the amount of time taken
for a product to go from being introduced into the market until it is
sold/taken off the shelves.|
Alignment with other EPS bans
| NSW| QLD| VIC| WA| SA| ACT| NT| TAS
(Hobart)| NZ
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
Food and beverage
EPS| 1 November
2022| 1
September 2021| 1
February 2023| 1 January 2022| 1 March 2022| 1 March 2021| 2025| 1 July 2021|
1 October 2022
Loose fill EPS| –| 1 September 2023| –| 1
February 2023 (6
month transition)| –| Possible ban 1 July 2023| 2025| –| TBC – 2024/25
Moulded consumer
EPS| –| –| –| 1
February 2023 (18 month
transition)| –| Possible
ban 1 July 2023| 2025| –| TBC 2024/25
Other EPS e.g. meat
trays| –| Possible ban 1
September 2024| –| 1
February 2023 (6
month transition)| 1
September 2024| Possible
ban 1 July
2023| –| –| TBC – 2024/25
Identifying a viable alternative
A key takeaway to consider when deciding on alternatives to EPS is to ensure
the problem is solved, not shifted. The likelihood of regrettable substitution
could be high if the health and environmental hazards of these alternatives
are not understood and communicated.
Other foamed plastics including expanded polyethylene (EPE) and expanded
polypropylene (EPP) are not recommended as an alternative as they have many of
the same problems as EPS, including a lack of recovery pathways and a
propensity to become litter. The Western Australian Government have, as of
December 2022, indicated an intention to include other foamed plastics in
their state single-use plastic bans.
Considerations for selecting alternatives include the following:
| Criteria | Description |
|---|---|
| Is the cost for the alternative comparable? | While costs may increase, will |
this be temporary as supply/demand increases?
Is the alternative processable with existing equipment?| Applicable to
packaging manufacturers.
Is there an opportunity for innovation?
Is there a chance to maintain/increase recycled content in the alternative?|
Is there an opportunity to switch to a recycled content fibre supplier that
has tested below the fluorine threshold?
Is the alternative available to meet demand?| Is the alternative able to meet
ongoing demand year on year?
Is the alternative sustainably sourced?| FSC certification?
How does the alternative compare in a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)?| If
relevant.
Does the packaging meet the Sustainable
Packaging Principles of the Sustainable
Packaging Guidelines (SPGs)?| See below.
When choosing alternatives, businesses should ensure that new packaging
formats have been assessed against the Sustainable Packaging Guidelines
(SPGs).
The SPGs are designed to assist the design and manufacture of packaging that
meets the sometimes-conflicting demands of the market, consumer protection and
the environment.|
---|---
The below list can be used to identify if an alternative is viable. If the answer is ‘no’ for one or a combination of the below criteria, then the alternative may not be viable. Please make sure to identify why the alternative is not viable when completing the report.
Is the alternative functional and does it service the product effectively?| •
Does it meet the same performance requirements as the original?
• Does it need to meet the same requirements as the original packaging?
• Can the protective qualities be reduced and still meet the packaging
requirements?
• Can external factors be shifted to suit the alternative? For example, could
the shelf life be reduced from 12 months to 9 months?
---|---
Does the alternative meet the necessary human health and safety requirements?|
• ·Is it safe for use in food contact packaging (if product is used for food
contact purposes)?
• Is it suitable for food contact in the end markets in which it is sold,
taking into consideration global product lines?
Is the alternative available?| • ·Is there stock available both domestically
and internationally?
• Is the alternative able to meet ongoing demand year on year?
Is the packaging recoverable?| • ·Is the alternative recyclable via kerbside
recycling, CDS schemes or other product stewardship collection?
• ·Is the alternative reusable?
• ·Is the alternative certified compostable?
• ·Is the alternative’s recoverability higher or lower in the waste hierarchy
than the existing packaging?
Is the alternative not a problematic material?| Refer to APCO’s Action Plan
for Problematic and Unnecessary Single-Use Plastic
Packaging. You do not want to use any materials listed for
phase out.
Is the alternative not listed on any state and territory single-use plastic
bans?| See here for an overview of the packaging formats included in the state
and territory single-use plastic bans. You do not want to use any banned
formats.
Action Plan and Reporting
To track industry’s progress in achieving the phase out of B2C EPS, an Action
Plan reporting mechanism has been set up.
Reporting will be collated by 31 March 2023 and all relevant organisations
should submit a report to APCO.
The data will be shared in de-identified and aggregated format with the
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, and will not
be publicly available unless the Department would like to report on progress,
with the data de-identified and aggregated as a whole.
To download the excel Action Plan please click the image below.
Further
information To contact APCO, please visit our website
apco.org.au
Documents / Resources
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Australian Packaging Covenant DAFR-0EXWik Quick Guide For The Phase Out Of
Business To Consumer
EPS
[pdf] Instruction Manual
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0EXWik, Quick Guide For The Phase Out Of Business To Consumer EPS, For The
Phase Out Of Business To Consumer EPS, Phase Out Of Business To Consumer EPS,
Out Of Business To Consumer EPS, Business To Consumer EPS, To Consumer EPS,
Consumer EPS
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