Explore guidelines for your region
We’ve partnered with the UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures to help you make informed decisions for your business.
Recommendations are in line with Australian and global guidelines, and focus on materials that can be recycled or composted.
Criteria used to assess packaging
Packaging that meets the following criteria would be considered to be sustainable.
Does it avoid problematic or hazardous materials?
Packaging is considered problematic if it is a high contributor to litter, if it contaminates other recyclable materials, or if it contains hazardous chemicals like PFAS.
Is it recyclable or compostable?
Recyclable
Many types of plastics can be recycled. Some common recyclable plastics are PET, HDPE, LDPE and PP. You can tell if packaging is made of these plastics by looking for one of these 4 polymer codes.
Other materials such as paper, cardboard and aluminium are also recyclable.
Some small items such as utensils and straws can’t be recycled, regardless of the material they are made of. Because of this, many items made with reduced impact on the environment through use of renewable materials can be considered sustainable. These materials include raw wood, cellulose fibre or paper.
Compostable
Packaging is technically compostable if it has one of these certifications
In practice, compostable packaging is only accepted for collection in specific states or LGAs, so it’s recommended you familiarise yourself with local requirements.
Industrially compostable
Home compostable A5 5810
Compostable
Examples of packaging
Based on the criteria listed above, here are some examples of practical application in Australia.
Type of packaging | Is it recyclable or compostable? | Reason |
|---|---|---|
Black plastic sushi tray | No | Black-colored plastic cannot be mechanically sorted for recycling and has limited end markets |
Plastic cutlery | No | High litter propensity and is difficult to collect for effective recycling |
Sugarcane bowl | Compostable | Ensure composting pathways and infrastructure exist in your local area and that products hold proper certification. |
Wooden cutlery | No | The packaging cannot be recycled, but the packaging uses renewable materials and is preferable to single-use plastic cutlery. |
Plastic (PP, PET) bowl + lid | Recyclable | PP is technically recyclable and most households have access to collection service. Ensure any remaining food is rinsed clean. |
Paper coffee cup (plastic lined) | No | Coffee cups are generally not accepted in recycling streams. |
Find local packaging suppliers
To make it easier and more affordable for you to source packaging you can visit our partner, Detpak.
We’re here to help, but you should make decisions based on what’s best for your business. Materials are provided for informational purposes only and shouldn’t be relied upon as business or legal advice from Uber.
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