Every month we buy hundreds of products without much thought. Sometimes we buy a product because it is low in fat or salt, and we believe it because it was ethically produced. Unfortunately, most people do not consider what their product is packaged in or if the product be recycled at the end of its life.

The good news is the tide is turning with major retailers and brands starting to pay more attention to the environment. This attention is more than a marketing ploy designed to make you buy a product. It is a movement with standards that must be met through compliance audits. Many brands differentiate themselves by adhering to them.

Why do brands adhere to standards?

In some cases, it is the law. Still, in most cases, it is because a customer, whether a retailer, a business, a government purchaser, or an end customer, has decided that they will only buy a product if it adheres to a standard.

That standard means that a brand has proven to adhere to the rules associated with that standard. Let's assume as a consumer, you only want to buy products where the packaging is recyclable. To promote their recyclable product, the brand must prove this and then can use some sort of logo on the packaging to reassure customers they are adhering to the standard.

Adherence to standards more than often increases the cost for that product to be produced. However, this means our products are safer, do less environmental damage and do not exploit a country or its people.

What are some of the standards that I should care about?

If we look at the intent of various standards, we can break this down into the following categories:

• Sustainability
• Use of recycled materials
• Ethical sourcing
• Compliant, Licensed and trusted supplier

Sustainability

The Australian Packaging Covenant is a national regulatory framework under the National Environment Protection (Used Packaging Materials) Measure 2011 (NEPM). It sets out how governments and businesses across Australia share the responsibility for managing the environmental impacts of packaging.

Public benefit: to reduce the impact of packaging on the environment.

Redcycle is a recovery initiative for post-purchase consumer soft plastic.

Public benefit: plastic bags and soft plastic material do not end up in landfill rubbish tips.

Use of recycled materials

An FSC certification sets standards for products produced from trees. It certifies them as eco-friendly based on the product's lifecycle and how it came to be.

Public benefit: the environment and communities are protected during the process.

The RCS is a voluntary standard to track recycled raw materials throughout the supply chain.

Public benefit: products with more than 5% recycled material are audited to ensure they meet their claims.

GRS is a voluntary product standard for tracking and verifying the content of recycled materials in a final product.

Public benefit: providing brands with a tool for more accurate labelling, encouraging innovation in the use of reclaimed materials, establishing more transparency in the supply chain, and providing better information to consumers.

Labelling such as these logos provides consumers with a guide on how they can recycle their packaging, so it is not sent to landfill.

Ethical sourcing

BSCI provides companies with a social auditing methodology and report.

Public benefit: companies improve working conditions in their supply chain.

The Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) is the world's largest industry coalition dedicated to corporate social responsibility in global supply chains.

Public benefit: initiatives for responsible sourcing of raw materials like minerals as well as the rights of vulnerable workers.

Compliant, Licensed, and trusted supplier

Australian Trusted Trader, an Australian government initiative, reduces red tape for Trusted Traders at the border, improves certainty in export markets, and expedites the flow of their cargo in and out of Australia, which means faster market access.

Public benefit: a better supply of products to the retailer's shelves.

Standards Australia is the nation's peak non-government, not-for-profit standards organisation.

Public benefit: products are fit for purpose and safe to use.

How do I decide which brands to buy?

You will be presented with a large choice of brands when at a retailer or even online. Many factors will come into play in making your buying decision.

Traditionally as a consumer, you would have considered price, features, and aesthetics. As we all become more socially aware as consumers, we should consider whether people or environments have been exploited in the manufacturing process of a product.

We should contemplate the effect that product will have on the environment, including the packaging that comes with the product. Finally, what will happen to the product when it reaches the end of its life, and how might we reduce landfill and encourage recycling?

HINTS

In making its manufacturing decision to provide its products to the market, Laser Corporation only works with factories that adhere to the above-listed standards. In addition, Laser has a rigorous Australian testing regime to ensure customer quality.

SUMMARY – Trusted, compliant & ethical brands

When making a purchasing decision as a consumer, we must consider the social and environmental implications of the product we purchase. A simple measure is to ensure the brands we buy are trusted, compliant and ethical.

We can determine this by the display on their packaging and company websites that they have adhered to global standards, which are depicted by logos and membership in accredited initiatives. Accredited standards should show they are audited to stop false advertising.