Packaging up a sustainable future for Australian business
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Researchers at Australia’s Food and Beverage Accelerator have developed a roadmap to help Australian food and beverage businesses shift towards more eco-friendly packaging.
The 2025 Sustainable Packaging Trends Report, produced by FaBA, highlights priority areas to reduce environmental impacts with designs that meet consumer expectations and regulatory requirements.
Report co-author Professor Janet McColl-Kennedy from The University of Queensland Business School said Australia’s packaging industry was on the cusp of generational change.
“Adopting sustainable packaging is one of the most immediate and impactful ways Australia’s food and beverage sector can transition to a circular economy,” Professor McColl-Kennedy said.
“Stakeholders in the food packaging value chain often report difficulties in ensuring sustainable packaging, waste management and circular economy practices.
“This report outlines the latest sustainable packaging trends to inform discussions and decisions towards the sustainable development of the Australian food and beverage sector.”
The report provides businesses with comprehensive and practical packaging solutions.
Co-author Dr Alexandria Gain said the report analysed market, industry and government publications to identify 12 key trends with the potential to influence sustainable packaging development.
“These trends were divided into 4 priority areas,” Dr Gain said.
- Governing waste for sustainable packaging development: emphasising regulatory actions, global partnerships and economic value capture from circularity.
- Designing packaging for circularity: focusing on recyclable, compostable and reusable packaging designs.
- Leveraging packaging design for sustainable food life cycles: highlighting the role of packaging in reducing food waste and emissions and supporting conscious consumption.
- Innovating technologies for sustainable packaging development: exploring advancements in next-gen recovery and bio-based packaging solutions.
Dr Gain said sustainability in packaging was no longer a choice, instead a necessity.
“Our research equips businesses with data-driven insights to adopt environmentally responsible packaging while maintaining product integrity and brand value,” Dr Gain said.
“From Australian compliance and global sustainability regulations to cutting-edge packaging technologies, the report provides businesses with a balanced approach to making informed, impactful decisions for the future.”
Collaboration and acknowledgements
The project was supported by the Australian Government Department of Education through the Trailblazer Universities Program.
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