Printer cartridge take-back schemes are an
example of product stewardship in action.
Source: Pattie Calfy, iStockphoto

With the emerging imperative for organisations to examine all avenues to reduce their environmental impacts, product stewardship schemes are seeing greater uptake – although the ‘how to’ still remains the main challenge in Australia.

Product stewardship commits organisations (predominantly across a manufacturing network) to develop or reengineer sustainable life-cycle approaches to product development and disposal. This of course reduces the environmental ‘footprint’ of the organisation with the benefits of minimised waste and toxicity, better resource efficiency and an improved triple bottom line.

The National Packaging Covenant and the National Environment Protection Council’s work on generic, co-regulatory product stewardship frameworks (specifically a National Environment Protection Measure, now evolved into specific co-regulatory arrangements for tyre stewardship) are a good start for Australia, in line with international priorities.

But there are also a number of industry led voluntary schemes, beyond a regulatory ‘safety net’, that are gaining traction: electronics, paint, printer cartridges, oil and metals schemes are some that have profile.

One of the main barriers to faster take-up remains an understanding of how organisations can commence product stewardship provisions. The Product Stewardship Conference, to be held in Melbourne on the 4th and 5th of June, will provide a timely forum for assessing current product stewardship frameworks and some of the practical approaches already being implemented in organisations today.

Lisa Townshend, Project Manager at conference host Liquid Learning Group, said, ‘the success of the National Packaging Covenant illustrates that product stewardship can be more readily adopted by Australian organisations. What is now being requested is more guidance and incentive on its take-up by other industry sectors.’

The event will show how stewardship contributes to the production of environmentally sustainable products and positive corporate social responsibility outcomes. It will also canvas where environmental sustainability practices should lead in the future, and how the corporate marketplace should be receivingand supporting product stewardship alongside government help in enforcing such practices in the commercial arena.

More information:
Product Stewardship Conference 2008, 4–5 June, Rendezvous Hotel, Melbourne, www.liquidlearning.com.au/cal_jun08_psc0608.php