As part of its Future Made in Australia Plan, Federal Labor has announced ‘ReMade in Australia’ where products that have a minimum of 20% recycled content, 50% of which must be Australian made, can display a new logo. The 50% local component will increase to 100% in 2030.

Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA), Diana Hallam, says, “Manufacturers of timber and wood-fibre products across our sector use a huge amount of recycled resource to make new products. Whether its recycled paper and packaging products being reused, recycled products in particleboard, or even plastics being recycled to create composite timber decking, the forest products sector is one of Australia’s great recyclers.

“I’m confident our manufacturers will be very interested to explore participation in the new ‘ReMade in Australia’ brand which aligns with AFPA’s Election Platform Australian Timber, Australia’s Future  and strengthening national sovereign capability in Aussie-grown and recycled timber and fibre resources.

“The big question remains however over whether Federal Labor will commit to Country of Origin labelling for timber and wood? While it’s a worthy endeavour to inform consumers about recycled content – informing them about where the timber and wood they’re buying comes from in the first place is as, if not more, important. 

“AFPA is also advocating for the removal of regulatory and other impediments that discourage recycling of timber, wood and fibre residues as well as other waste to produce energy, including larger scale biomass energy. There are estimates that up to 60% of used timber ends up in landfill, so innovative government policy around this issue is strongly encouraged.”