Your business is likely to have obligations under the National Environmental Protection (Used Packaging Materials) Measure 2011 (NEPM) if:
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you meet the requirements to be classed as a brand owner
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you have a turnover of more than $5 million annually
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you are in a supply chain that uses packaging or packaged products.
This page is designed to help you work out whether the NEPM applies to your business and, if so, what your obligations are.
How to meet your obligations as a liable brand owner
There are two pathways to meet your obligations as a liable brand owner:
- Become a signatory of the Australian Packaging Covenant (the Covenant), or
- If your head office is in Victoria and you choose not be a signatory, then you must comply with EPA’s Environment Protection Regulations 2021 (the Regulations) for used packaging materials (Part 4.3).
EPA’s preference is that all brand owners are a signatory to the Covenant. This encourages a nationally consistent approach. It also provides opportunity for brand owners to work with their industry to improve the way packaging is being managed in Australia.
Liable brand owners who are not a signatory of the Covenant must report information to EPA annually by the 30 September. This is to meet compliance obligations under the Regulations.
Information about the NEPM for used packaging materials
How to work out if your business has obligations under the NEPM
About the Environment Protection Regulations 2021
About brand audits and APCO letters
Reviewed 28 November 2022