Australian Environment Ministers Agree on Circular Economy Roadmap 
On September 18, 2026, the Environment Ministers’ Meeting (EMM) was held in Australia, where environment ministers agreed to harmonize national, state, and territory circular economy policies under the Circular Economy Roadmap. Recognizing packaging regulation reform as an urgent and critical priority, ministers also agreed to work with industry, local governments, and other stakeholders to develop a future packaging reform plan under the National Competition Policy. Packaging regulation reform will be discussed further at the next EMM. The Circular Economy Roadmap outlines initiatives to accelerate the transition to a circular economy across Australia, designating packaging, batteries, and solar panels as the initial priority products for national harmonization.
The EMM is an intergovernmental forum that discusses strategic issues and drives actions to improve Australia’s environment. It comprises the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and the environment ministers from each Australian state and territory. Discussions at this meeting focused on advancing a shared national agenda centered on environmental assessment, nature restoration, climate resilience, and the circular economy. Key points of the Circular Economy Roadmap are summarized below.
Circular Economy Roadmap
Focusing on efficient resource use and waste reduction, the roadmap sets the following targets:
- Double overall circularity in Australia by 2035
- Reduce virgin material use by 10%
- Increase material value through reuse by 30%
- Achieve an 80% safe resource recovery rate
It also strengthens eco-design and product stewardship initiatives—which assign responsibility for collection and recycling—for the following products:
- Packaging
- Batteries
- End-of-life solar panels
Additionally, the roadmap aims to develop collection, sorting, and repair infrastructure, create markets for recycled materials, and harmonize varying regulations across states and territories.
Upcoming Timeline
- Next 6 months: Establish criteria for identifying priority issues and implement initial actions utilizing existing frameworks.
- Next 2 years: Develop and execute concrete reform plans across respective action areas.
- By 2035: Establish a well-considered circular economy system across society and industry.
Product Stewardship Action Pathways
| Priorities | Next 6 months | Next 2 years | By 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Packaging | Examine options, in consultation with industry, to harmonise and strengthen existing co-regulatory arrangement:
Including exploring adding to co-regulatory scheme:
Commit to strengthening NEPM monitoring and enforcement. Explore applying the Commonwealth Design Framework as a national harmonised approach to packaging recyclability and design. Build evidence base with further cost benefit analysis and modelling. |
Subject to future government decision making processes and parliamentary processes, amend the National Environment Protection Council Act 1994
Subject to future government decision making processes:
|
Evaluate progress on embedding mandatory product stewardship for priority products.
Consider next steps based on Circular Economy Roadmap and/or agreed reform plans. |
| Batteries | All states and territories will consider aligning with the NSW legislative approach to support a nationally consistent model for mandatory battery product stewardship, supported by the National Competition Policy reform process where agreed by parties. | Subject to parties’ agreement, implement National Competition Policy reform plans, that may include mirroring NSW legislation. | |
| End-of-life solar | Noting NSW’s intention to establish regulations in the state, continue to progress the development of nationally consistent model in-line with previous EMM commitments. | Subject to parties’ agreement, implement the solar panel product stewardship scheme. |
Related Links
- The Circular Economy Roadmap can be downloaded at:
https://www.dcceew.gov.au/about/publication/environment-ministers-meeting-circular-economy-roadmap - Environment Ministers’ Meeting Overview Page:
https://www.dcceew.gov.au/about/news/stay-informed/communiques#environment-ministers-meeting
