Major change is on the way to Australia’s packaging regulations – and this is set to impact both food suppliers and foodservice end-users. The Federal Government is coordinating an effort to bring in new legislation across Australia’s states and territories: in place of voluntary codes of practice, recycling of plastic and removal of certain chemicals from the packaging supply chain is to become mandated by law.

International research shows consumers are taking your commitment to sustainability into account more and more when deciding to dine in or order out. A 2023 study conducted by the Sustainable Restaurant Association found more than 80 per cent of diners consider sustainability as a deciding factor when selecting a dining venue, while a similar report from UKHospitality showed 80 per cent of people expect a hospitality brand to demonstrate sustainable practice and that 41 per cent were willing to pay more for sustainable dining. Closer to home, a survey by IBIS World showed 87 per cent of Australians are concerned about environmental issues and sustainability.