EDITORIAL - NOVEMBER 2003

In this edition of Issues we look at waste, focusing in particular on current debates about plastic bags. I was surprised to learn that Australians use almost 7 billion plastic bags a year-which means almost one plastic bag per day, per person. Plastic accounts for 30 per cent of the rubbish picked up every Clean Up Australia Day and two per cent of that plastic is shopping bags! Because plastic bags are designed for single use, many people argue they really are not necessary, they are environmentally damaging and so something needs to be done.

In response to community concern, a working group was established by Australia's Environment Ministers to examine the range of options available to reduce the environmental impact of plastic bags. A summary of the working group's findings can be found in 'Plastic Shopping Bags in Australia' by the Environment Protection and Heritage Council.

Other initiatives to reduce waste involve partnerships between communities, local government and non-government organisations like Planet Ark and Clean Up Australia. Articles by both groups outline a number of initiatives around Australia that aim to either reduce or eliminate the use of plastic bags.

Other articles included in this edition look more broadly at issues of waste. The National Packaging Covenant was launched in August 1999 with the aim of promoting the principles of shared responsibility and product stewardship. While the covenant is voluntary, as the packaging council points out, it will 'force companies to think more seriously about their packaging' and to 'continuously improve' the environmental outcome of their packaging processes.

Another initiative is 'zero waste'. An article by Warren Snow explores the possibility of a waste free future. He argues that the ways we have traditionally disposed of waste-landfill and incineration-have led to a range of environmental and health problems. We should instead be aiming for zero waste. Snow defines 'zero waste' as a way of looking at new business pportunities for waste and recycling which aims to Eliminate waste rather than merely manage it. Therefore, 'zero waste' looks at the way products are designed so that they last longer, can be recycled and, in the case of organic materials, composted. Articles by EcoRecycle and Greenpeace also discuss the possibility of zero waste. The article by Greenpeace also argues for extended producer responsibility that involves manufacturers taking responsibility for the entire life cycle of their products and packaging. If a product can't be reused, recycled or composted, then the manufacturer should bear the cost of collection and disposal.

However, as Saul Salter points out, the amount of packaging we use is increasing. He argues that this is ultimately the result of consumer choice. We need and buy packaged goods for convenience, protection and presentation and, therefore, it is unrealistic to blame industry alone. We are all responsible for reducing waste.

We hope that this edition of Issues Encourages you to actively think about your packaging choices and their impact on the environment.