Circular Australia has welcomed the federal government’s proposal for a national digital product passport, championed by Minister Tanya Plibersek. The scheme aims to enable tracking of how products are made, reused, recycled, and disposed of. Lisa McLean, CEO of Circular Australia, called it “terrific news for jobs and the environment,” noting it may unlock a $2 billion economic opportunity by keeping resources in circulation longer and reducing reliance on new raw materials.
The passport concept aligns Australia with international developments in resource traceability, positioning the nation alongside trading partners like the UK, EU, and China. Circular Australia emphasised that it complements broader circular economy measures—such as updated design standards, infrastructure investment, removing toxic chemicals, and enhanced metrics—needed to shift economic growth away from finite resource consumption.
- National digital product passport to track manufacture, reuse, recycling, disposal—designed to support waste-avoidance and resource recovery.
- Estimated $2 billion economic benefit by extending the life and value of products.
- Brings Australia into alignment with global initiatives like those in the UK, EU, and China.
- Forms part of an integrated strategy that includes design standards, infrastructure investment, chemical management, and circular economy metrics.
