Product Stewardship

Product Stewardship is an approach that acknowledges that all those involved in producing, manufacturing, selling, using and disposing of products have a shared responsibility to ensure their environmentally sound management.

The Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association of Australia (PACIA) represents companies dealing (supplying and manufacturing) in both conventional and degradable plastics as well as plastics re-processors.

PACIA have developed a Common Framework for the use of degradable plastics in Australia in consultation with the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts and stakeholders from related industries both here and overseas (including the composting industry) which will guide the self-regulation of degradable plastics in Australia by:

Promoting Material Selection Based on Merit
Applying Life-cycle Assessments
Developing Degradable Product Design Guidelines
Raising awareness among industry stakeholders
Undertaking cooperative research to fill excisting knowledge gaps
Developing a database of degradable plastics and products
Using sound science to guide decision making

PACIA Common Framework for the Use of Degradable Plastics in Australia

Not all degradable plastics companies are members of PACIA, but all are encouraged to act responsibly in the choice and marketing of degradable plastics. If you plan to market a degradable product in Australia, please first visit the following pages: