How the National Plastics Plan and single-use plastic bans could shape plastic use

To address the issue of plastic waste in Australia, the federal Australian government and several State governments have announced initiatives designed to reduce plastic waste and avoid the use of some plastic materials. Australia has been considering numerous issues on plastic waste for several years, with ongoing negotiations between governments at Federal and State level with food and packaging company stakeholders, municipal governments and environmental groups. This article reviews the background and likely impacts of a National Plastics Plan announced in March 2021 as well as the single-plastic bans being implemented in Australian States.