Industrial Transformation Australia Innovation Stage Agenda

Packaging is no longer just a cost line: it is becoming a compliance obligation.

In Australia, the transition from voluntary APCO targets to mandatory national packaging regulations is well underway, with eco-modulated EPR fees in development and state-level bans already in effect. Internationally, the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) will cap void space in all outbound parcels at 50% from 2030, with penalties and audit obligations for non-compliant operations. This session presents a five-step framework – Analyse, Solutionise, Implement, Evaluate, Comply and Optimise – that enables fulfilment operations to achieve packaging compliance with measurable positive ROI. Drawing on smart cubing analysis methodology and real-world case studies, the presentation demonstrates how every step in the compliance journey simultaneously reduces cost: lower labour, reduced shipping volume, fewer cartons, and smaller EPR fee exposure.
The argument is direct: the right operational process does not trade off compliance against profit. It delivers both.