Laying the foundations for a sustainable packaging pathway
philo & co was engaged by one of Australia’s leading fashion retailers to improve the quality, consistency, and transparency of its sustainable packaging practices. The client needed expert guidance to meet APCO and NEPM requirements, strengthen internal capability, and develop a clear, actionable reporting roadmap.
Approach: Over a 12-month engagement, we delivered support across five key focus areas:
• APCO compliance: Developed a tailored compliance guide and internal plan to support data collection and reporting obligations.
• Packaging assessments: Audited key primary packaging formats to assess recyclability and on-pack claims.
• APCO Annual Report: Collaborated with internal teams to gather and verify packaging data, identify material hotspots and ensure an accurate Year 1 APCO submission.
• APCO Annual Report: Facilitated a workshop to identify and prioritise packaging commitments and supported the development and submission of the Action Plan.
• Team training: Delivered quarterly training sessions on NEPM, circular packaging design, APCO Guidelines, and market regulations.
Impact:
Delivered a complete, accurate Year 1 APCO Annual Report and Action Plan, laying the foundation for long-term sustainable packaging strategy and compliance.
Identified key opportunities to improve recyclability and claims across packaging formats.
Equipped internal teams with actionable packaging insights and verified supplier data.
Provided a clear implementation plan to continue the sustainable packaging journey with confidence and focus.
Increased packaging literacy- 67% of training participants reported gaining a lot of new knowledge.
“philo & co has been instrumental in laying the foundations for our sustainable packaging journey. Their expertise supported us in building APCO compliance processes, assessing packaging, and creating a clear reporting pathway. The training sessions have been invaluable in growing our team’s knowledge and confidence, and we’re excited to continue another year partnering with philo & co to drive further progress.”