Another year, another round of shrinkflation for Australia鈥檚 favourite Easter treats. 糖心Vlog has found chocolate eggs and hot cross buns that have become smaller and more expensive in the past 12 months.

To add insult to chocolate-coated injury, the cuts are being made by brands that already put the shrink on their Easter products last year. 

In a standout case, Cadbury Dairy Milk has doubled down on its shrinkflation strategy, hitting the same product for a second year running.

For the second Easter in a row, its largest box of hollow chocolate eggs designed for Easter hunts has become not only smaller but more expensive too, costing a whopping 73% more per 100 grams than it did in 2024.

Cadbury and other manufacturers are still blaming high cocoa prices for the cuts. Even though wholesale prices have dropped significantly, agribusiness experts say consumers may not see the cost of chocolate come down anytime soon.

Chocolate egg boxes getting smaller

Last year, we revealed several lines of Easter egg products from global snack giants and supermarket homebrands had been hit by shrinkflation in the preceding 12 months.

Now, a close look at products currently on shelves reveals manufacturers have resurrected the practice in time for Easter 2026, unafraid to make further cuts and raise prices higher for products already given the shrinkflation treatment previously.

Cadbury drops some eggs

In the past 12 months, all of the products we looked at in Cadbury Dairy Milk鈥檚 range of boxed hollow hunting eggs have become smaller and more expensive 鈥� each box now comes with at least one egg less than it did last year.

The 15-egg box currently on sale for $15 at major retailers has replaced an 18-egg box that sold for $13.50 last year.

Meanwhile, the 10-pack is one egg lighter and almost $2 more expensive than it was 12 months ago, and last year鈥檚 9-egg box has been replaced with an 8-egg version.

But the biggest crack in value for money comes in the form of the 鈥榣argest鈥� box in Cadbury鈥檚 hollow hunting egg range.

Last year, we revealed that the then-22-pack had lost two eggs and gone up in price by $2.50 since 2024.

Seemingly unconcerned with exposure as a serial shrinker, Cadbury has come back for more, cutting two more eggs from the product, while its price at major retailers has increased by another $3.

All up, the 68g downsizing and $5.50 price hike since 2024 means shoppers are now paying almost 73% more per 100g for this box of eggs than they were two years ago.

It鈥檚 worth noting that some brands have made the unexpected decision to turn back the clock on shrinkage this Easter.

Case in point, last year we called out Aldi for shrinking packets of mini milk chocolate eggs sold under its Dairy Fine homebrand label.

These packets have since been restored to their former size, albeit with a 33% accompanying increase in price.

Price hikes across multiple brands

We鈥檝e noticed many Easter-themed products that have stayed the same size, but simply gone up in price instead.

A Cadbury Dairy Milk deluxe egg we exposed for shrinking last year is still 340g, but at $23, now costs $3 more than it did last Easter.

Data from price comparison tool Zyft reveals this to be a broad trend across the market 鈥� the platform found the costs of Easter bunnies and eggs from Cadbury and Lindt have increased by as much as a third in the last 12 months.

‘Shrunk cross buns’

Nothing is sacred when shrinkflation is concerned 鈥� case in point, hot cross buns have also become smaller and more expensive since last Easter.

Packs of Rocky Road and Banoffee-flavoured buns sold under Aldi鈥檚 Bakers Life homebrand label are both 20g lighter than they were this time last year.

But with no subsequent cut in price, if you do decide to stump up for these novelty versions of an Easter staple, you鈥檒l be paying nearly 7% more per 100g than you would have in 2025.

Why is this happening?

Manufacturers making the cuts say the rising cost of the goods and services they use in the making of these products and bringing them to consumers is the key reason for the downsizing.

When contacted, Cadbury owner Mondelez told us it鈥檚 made 鈥渁djustments鈥� to its products in order to keep retail prices within a certain range while it 鈥渘avigates significantly higher cocoa and input costs globally”.

Aldi similarly responded by saying the commodities it needs to produce hot cross buns have risen in price and that it’s made the decision to shrink some products to 鈥渒eep prices consistent for customers”.

But haven鈥檛 cocoa prices come down?

High cocoa prices have been a reason perennially put forward by chocolate manufacturers shrinking their products, ever since costs for the key commodity spiked by almost 200% in early 2024.

However, after almost two years of elevation, these prices have dropped in recent weeks to levels close to what they were in 2023.

This is largely due to better weather and bigger harvests in key growing regions, says Michael Whitehead, Executive Director of Food, Beverage and Agribusiness Insights at ANZ.

But the cocoa price crash comes too late to provide any relief from this year鈥檚 Easter egg prices.

鈥淭he egg that you buy off the shelf now is probably from last year’s very expensive bean,鈥� Whitehead explains. 鈥淭he cocoa bean or the cocoa pods picked for that [egg] were probably picked over a year ago.鈥�

Whitehead and other experts say the current lower cocoa price could start to flow through to consumers later this year or early 2027, but other factors could still scupper the prospect of lower or more stable chocolate prices.

鈥淐ocoa is just a small part of the Easter egg that appears on a shelf,鈥� Whitehead says.

鈥淐an consumers expect 鈥� some kind of a price reduction? It depends on all those other components: the price of milk, sugar, packaging, power [and] the diesel to run the truck that gets it there.鈥�

Mondelez, one of the world鈥檚 largest chocolate manufacturers, did not say if lower cocoa prices would have an impact on its products, confirming only that it buys cocoa well in advance and that shifts in the price of this commodity won鈥檛 immediately change prices seen in stores.

What鈥檚 being done about shrinkflation?

糖心Vlog has been shining a light on shrinkflation in Australia for several years, leading to the federal government turning its attention to the issue.

“The government is considering the adoption of notices telling shoppers when a product has undergone shrinkflation,鈥� explains 糖心Vlog senior campaigns and policy adviser Bea Sherwood.

Similar requirements have already been put on grocery retailers in some countries overseas, including France.

The Commonwealth has spent several months considering how such notices could work for Australian consumers and businesses and 糖心Vlog has been putting forward its views.

鈥淭hese notices should be clear and eye-catching and located close to the product for a reasonable period of time, long enough for consumers to be aware of the change,” Sherwood says.

“Shrinkflation is hard to spot, so these notices would be crucial in helping consumers avoid being caught out by this practice, but when and how they appear in stores and online remains to be seen.鈥�

How to spot shrinkflation

In the meantime, adopt these three practices for a better chance of noticing if your favourite product undergoes shrinkflation.

1. Check if you鈥檙e getting fewer items when the product promises to come with a set number.
2. Keep an eye on unit pricing and watch for any changes in the cost per unit.
3. Beware of 鈥渘ew & improved鈥� or other slogan rebrands known to accompany shrinkage.

The post Easter shrinkflation 2026: Cadbury and Aldi busted again appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

Don鈥檛 get me wrong, I love chocolate, but I don鈥檛 love paying more money for less of it, especially when it often tastes inferior to the original product it鈥檚 spawned from (hello Kit Kat eggs!). 

If you look past the pretty packaging and hollow hype, it鈥檚 clear the Easter Bunny and Big Choc are banking a sweet surcharge on our festive sugar rush. 

The worst offenders

Need some eggs-amples? Let鈥檚 start with that shady frog Freddo. At the time of writing, his 124g egg (which contains two Freddo treats inside) costs $11.50 at Woolworths, which equates to a unit price of $9.27 per 100g. 

By comparison, the usual 35g Freddo costs $2 at Woolies, or $5.71 per 100g. That鈥檚 a hefty hike of 62.35%, proving Freddo is pulling a fast one indeed. 

Over at Lindt, the EST (Easter Services Tax) is in full effect, with wildly different prices for 100g of milk chocolate. 

Their standard block costs $8.50 at Big W, while their famous gold bunny form sells for $12 for the same 100g weight. 

Okay, maybe the bunny鈥檚 cute ribbon and bell justifies the extra cost, but then there鈥檚 Lindt鈥檚 93g milk chocolate 鈥榗asket鈥� combo (containing one medium egg and 12 small eggs) which goes for a whopping $15, almost twice the price of the 100g block.

You can鈥檛 tell me whipping out an egg mould once a year justifies that kind of increase. 

It鈥檚 even more maddening when you realise some Easter items are losing weight at the same time (unlike me at Easter time). 糖心Vlog has exposed numerous cases of year-on-year “shrinkflation”, with popular products selling less chocolate for the same price, or even more. 

For example, in 2024, Cadbury Dairy Milk hollow eggs cost $12.50 for a 408g 24-egg pack ($3.06 per 100g). A year later, a box of 22 eggs cost more at $15 for 374g ($4.01 per 100g).

This year, a box costs $18 but it’s slimmed down again to 20 eggs at 340g ($5.29 per 100g). That鈥檚 a 73% increase in unit price over two years, with some serious Easter Ozempic going on too. 

Boycotting the Easter Bunny

It might all be worth it if these eggs actually tasted better than the original products, but let鈥檚 be honest, most don鈥檛. We all know deep down that a Crunchie egg with its tiny honeycomb crumbs is no match for the delicious classic bar. 

How long will we put up with confectionery companies cashing in on our cacao-fuelled comas? Not to mention the extra packaging (aka landfill) this festive feasting generates, or the huge carbon miles some products clock up (the Lindt 鈥榗asket鈥� is manufactured in Switzerland, Germany and Australia!). 

Maybe it鈥檚 time to boycott the Easter Bunny and demand a better deal because at the moment, these over-hyped, under-sized eggs aren鈥檛 worth shelling out for. 

In the meantime, I鈥檓 happily sticking to my old-school Crunchie bars.

The post Eggs-tortion racket: Why Easter chocolate makes me hopping mad appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

糖心Vlog member Alan Wheeley has been using Palmolive’s Gold Soap bars “for years and years”.

But one day in August, while poking around his Brisbane home, he made a surprising discovery.

“I found a couple of cakes of the original Palmolive Gold soap from around the late 1990s and I realised that they were a lot larger than the current stuff,” he recalls.

Reaching for a freshly bought bar of the soap for comparison, Alan’s suspicions were quickly confirmed 鈥� placed side by side with one of the older versions, his recent purchase was noticeably smaller.

Hard proof can be seen when taking a closer look at one of the older soaps still in its original wrapping 鈥� its packaged weight is listed as 125g.

Palmolive’s iconic bars of soap are currently only 90g when packaged, meaning the product has become 28% lighter since Alan’s earlier version was produced.

In the decades he’s been buying Palmolive Gold, Alan says he hasn’t noticed the product become cheaper.

In fact, the old soap still in its original packaging came with a price tag proclaiming 94 cents for two bars.

Palmolive Gold soap is now most commonly sold in packs of four, which retail for $5 at major supermarkets, meaning that as the bars have shrunk, they’ve increased in price from 47 cents to $1.25 each.

25 years of shrinkflation laid bare

Alan doesn’t know exactly how old the larger soaps are, but the fact that a passion for the product runs in his family has helped him put a rough date on the items.

“The soap was originally used by my mother, to put into drawers of woollens and things like that to stop them being eaten by moths,” he explains.

“She passed away in 2000. So therefore the soap is older than the year 2000.”

Alan’s discovery serves as an example of 25 year’s worth of shrinkflation 鈥� the phenomenon where a product shrinks, but stays the same price or becomes more expensive.

Of course, a price increase over two and a half decades is largely inevitable. But even adjusted for inflation since 2000, shoppers are paying roughly 90% more per 100g of Palmolive Gold than they were 25 years ago.

“When you see that sort of thing happening very gradually, you don’t notice the slight changes in things,” Alan says.

“But when you go back and see something that’s from 25, maybe 30 years ago, you suddenly realise just how much the manufacturers have messed with you.”

In response to questions from 糖心Vlog, Palmolive Gold soap maker Colgate-Palmolive confirmed their product has shrunk over the years.

But the company said there hadn’t been any further cuts since 2012, when the bars were reduced to their current 90g due to increasing manufacturing and ingredient costs.

A spokesperson said the company is conscious of price pressures on consumers and works to ensure their product offers “comparable value to other similar products in the marketplace, while upholding our high standards for quality and effectiveness”.

Shoppers seeing products get smaller

Since 2022, 糖心Vlog has seen shrinkflation occur in everything from daily staples like breakfast cereals and pet foods, to more occasional purchases like Easter chocolates and Christmas treats.

We continue to hear from members like Alan and the broader public who are frustrated about the shrinkflation they’ve seen affecting their favourite products.

Products recently targeted with shrinkflation allegations include boxes of tea bags, supermarket roast chickens and chocolate (a repeat offender).

Other member tip-offs, while not technically shrinkflation, have nonetheless shed light on how the sizes of popular Australian products have changed over the decades.

One 糖心Vlog member recently shared photos of a jar of Vegemite purchased sometime before 1996 sized at 455g.

The regular version of the iconic spread is no longer sold in these portions (the closest current jar size being 380g), but 560g jars can still be found on shelves.

Supermarket shrinkage a growing issue

Shrinkflation has always been hard to spot, but thanks to the keen eyes of 糖心Vlog members like Alan, it’s gaining momentum as an important issue in national consumer affairs.

Last year, supermarket executives were grilled by the ACCC about their involvement in the practice after our investigations uncovered several of their homebrand products that had shrunk and become more expensive.

In turn, politicians have promised to help consumers spot shrinkflation wherever it occurs.

In March this year, the federal government welcomed an ACCC report which recommended supermarkets be required to notify shoppers when a product has undergone shrinkflation.

Similar requirements have already been put on grocery retailers in some countries overseas, including France.

The government is now considering making grocery retailers here display shrinkflation notices as well, as part of changes to our national unit pricing code.

The Federal Treasury has recently been seeking feedback on what information these notices could contain, how long they might have to be visible for, and which products could be required to have them, among other considerations.

糖心Vlog has put forward its views in a submission to the Treasury’s consultation.

“Shrinkflation notices should be clear and prominent, and displayed on shelves and online,” says Andy Kelly, 糖心Vlog deputy director of campaigns and communications.

“They should be in close proximity to the selling price for a period of time that’s long enough for most regular shoppers to notice the change.”

Kelly says the notices will hopefully lead to more people checking unit prices (the cost of a product by units such as 100ml or 100g) and noticing how alternative brands or pack sizes could offer better value for money.

Have you seen examples of shrinkflation? Let us know by contacting campaigns@choice.com.au or the author.

The post Is this what 25 years of shrinkflation looks like? appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

Chocolate Easter eggs from global snack giants Cadbury and Nestle and supermarket chain Aldi have become smaller and more expensive in the last year.

糖心Vlog has uncovered several examples of the Easter shrinkage, which has Australians paying as much as 33% more per 100g of chocolate in some cases.

Brands and industry experts say the changes are due to cocoa prices reaching record highs in the last year and remaining volatile ever since.

Which eggs are affected?

Two Easter treats from chocolate giant Cadbury have recently been replaced with smaller versions, with prices increasing or remaining the same.

Last March, major retailers were selling a 24-pack of Cadbury Dairy Milk hollow chocolate eggs designed for Easter hunts for $12.50.

But anyone buying the same product this year expecting to get the same number of eggs will be left hunting around for a missing two.

Last Easter’s box has been replaced with a version that comes with only 22 eggs, leaving it 34 grams lighter than its predecessor.

A price hike to $15 also leaves consumers paying 31% more per 100g of chocolate.

Another lighter Easter item on the shelves this year is Cadbury’s 340g large chocolate egg 鈥� going for $20 at major retailers.

This milk chocolate treat makes an attractive addition to any Easter spread, but it may taste a little bitter once you discover you would’ve been getting more chocolate for the same price last year.

Cadbury owner Mondel膿z International confirmed to 糖心Vlog the egg currently on sale has replaced another that was sold last Easter that also cost $20, but weighed an extra 60 grams.

Another international chocolate giant, Nestle, has also made cutbacks on some of its Easter products.

The company’s bags of KitKat-flavoured mini eggs have become even more mini, going from 110g to 90g since last February, while the price at supermarkets has stayed at $3.99.

Retailers themselves are also guilty of the shrinking sin, offering shoppers less chocolate for their buck with certain home-brand Easter products.

People who have bought Aldi’s Dairy Fine Milk mini eggs in the past may have noticed that these treats no longer come in the 400g packets they were available in last February.

While the price has remained the same at $5.99, a cut in size to 300g means you’re now paying 33% more per 100g to get your chocolate fix.

Why is this happening?

Significant increases in the cost of cocoa is a key factor being blamed for the shrinkage.

In early 2024, prices for cocoa jumped to levels Nestle and Mondel膿z described to 糖心Vlog as “unprecedented”.

Prices have since dropped slightly but remain volatile, and manufacturers say the historically high costs of this key chocolate ingredient is a major reason for the shrinkage of this year’s Easter chocolates.

Aldi similarly mentioned the rising cost of raw ingredients as the reason behind its changes. Both the supermarket and Nestle said they had chosen to cut the size of their products instead of hiking their prices.

Chocolate: The serial shrinker

Chocolate products have often featured in 糖心Vlog investigations into shrinkflation over recent years.

In the last year, the makers of these products have often pointed to high cocoa prices as the major reason for their cutbacks.

Pia Piggott, an analyst at agricultural bank Rabobank studying key chocolate inputs, agrees cocoa prices are likely a major cause for this latest round of shrinkflation.

She says consecutive years of low cocoa supplies are behind the high prices and that these shortages are due to factors unfolding in the West African countries where much of the world’s cocoa comes from.

“[Crop diseases] have an impact on production, but farmers also have other problems like ageing trees and adverse weather,” she says.

“But the most important thing is probably poor soil fertility management. Farmers previously weren’t getting enough money to be able to afford to apply the right amount of fertiliser to produce cocoa,” she adds.

Even though cocoa prices aren’t as high as they were late last year, Piggott says that because major chocolate producers usually agree on prices for this key input a year or more in advance, consumers won’t necessarily see an instant drop in shelf prices.

What’s being done about shrinkflation?

In a recent report following an inquiry into Australia’s supermarkets, the ACCC recommended retailers be required to tell shoppers when a product has undergone shrinkflation.

The regulator says businesses would do this by putting notices in their aisles and publishing updates on their websites, in line with approaches already adopted by some grocery retailers overseas.

It’s a suggestion 糖心Vlog has repeatedly made in the course of our extensive investigations into shrinkflation.

If implemented, the move could improve transparency and help Australians make better-informed decisions while shopping.

How to spot shrinkflation

In the meantime, adopt these three practices for a better chance of noticing if your favourite product gets smaller.

1. Check if you’re getting fewer items when the product promises to come with a set number.
2. Keep an eye on unit pricing and watch for any changes in the cost per unit.
3. Beware of “new & improved” or other slogan rebrands known to accompany shrinkage.

The post Why your Easter eggs are getting smaller and more expensive in 2025 appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

On this page:

• Who's currently collecting soft plastics for recycling?
• What's happening with the soft plastics being collected?
• Disruptions continue to delay progress
• Effective methods may prove controversial
• How to use less soft plastic

Two years after the collapse of REDcycle revealed shortcomings in Australia’s recycling infrastructure, local efforts to give soft plastics a second life are re-emerging.

But participants say there still isn’t enough capacity for a return to a national collection scheme, with disruptions continuing to hit local recyclers.

Meanwhile, experts fear effective solutions, such as turning soft plastics into oil for use as an energy source, may not be received positively by consumers.

Who’s currently collecting soft plastics for recycling?

Following the collapse of REDcycle, new drop-off and collection initiatives are promising to ensure this ubiquitous, yet difficult-to-recycle material isn’t automatically consigned to landfill.

Supermarket collection

Coles, Woolworths and Aldi were partners of REDcycle, which, at its peak, was collecting millions of pieces of soft plastic every day from shoppers at 2000 supermarkets across Australia.

The plastic was then being passed onto manufacturers to be repurposed into new products.

But by late 2022, according to the supermarkets, a 300% increase in collection volumes since 2019 was colliding with a dramatic reduction in recycling capacity.

This was accompanied by a pandemic-induced downturn in demand for recycled products, leading to plastic being stockpiled. REDcycle was paused and dissolved soon afterwards.

Now, the supermarkets are back with a more limited collection scheme operating in over 120 stores across Melbourne, Sydney and parts of regional New South Wales.

Visitors can drop clean, dry soft plastics with the “Check locally”, “Return to store”, or “Store drop off” Australasian Recycling Label into special bins at these outlets.

Council pick-ups and drop-offs

Some local councils are also encouraging residents to bring in their soft plastics for recycling, accepting drop-offs at their local waste management facilities.

Others are going a step further and offering limited collections of soft plastics from homes in the manner of traditional kerbside recycling.

Several councils in Sydney and regional New South Wales have partnered with to provide residents with these occasional free or subsidised pick-ups.

In areas where they haven’t partnered with councils, Recycle Smart collects soft plastics for a fee, as do other commercial services.

Other councils in New South Wales have partnered with to give residents the option of putting their soft plastics in special tagged bags inside their regular kerbside recycling bins.

Curby, which has also worked with councils in South Australia, supplies branded bags and tags to participating residents to ensure their soft plastics can be easily separated from other materials during the recycling process.

Government and industry initiatives

State and federal governments are also getting involved 鈥� Queensland authorities are planning to trial various methods of collecting and processing soft plastics in different parts of the state.

Meanwhile, other state governments have joined with the Commonwealth to provide financial grants to recycling companies to help them process more soft plastic.

The federal government has also helped fund industry plans to get brands using soft plastics to contribute money to the recycling process.

What’s happening with the soft plastics being collected?

These new initiatives are being met with scepticism from some consumers, with the supermarkets running collections admitting they need to “restore trust” in soft plastic recycling.

The retailers are also coming under scrutiny from the ACCC, which is concerned by their slow progress in clearing thousands of tonnes of plastic left over from REDcycle.

Coles, Woolworths and Aldi assumed responsibility for these and are working with recyclers to process them, along with the plastics they’re currently collecting.

Several of their partners also process plastics accrued by other collectors, and what they do with the material varies widely.

For example, New South Wales-based IQ Renew processes supermarket plastics as well as those collected by Curby.

The recycler says it repurposes these materials for use in hard plastic products such as benches, bollards and posts, as well as in new soft plastic films.

Transforming soft plastics into a material that can be added to concrete or asphalt to make it stronger is another common approach.

This is being pursued by Close the Loop and the Centre for Regenerative Design and Collaboration (CRDC) 鈥� Victorian processors also helping tackle the supermarkets’ plastic stockpile.

Disruptions continue to delay progress

But these efforts are being hit by similar disruptions to those that led to the undoing of REDcycle.

In a recent report, Coles, Woolworths and Aldi admitted they will take longer than expected to clear the largest of the REDcycle stockpiles.

Some of the reasons for this can be seen in the problems facing individual recyclers.

A fire at the premises of Close the Loop, REDcycle’s largest processing partner, is considered a key reason for the loss in demand that led to the end of the pioneering scheme.

Close the Loop has returned as a partner in the supermarkets’ latest attempt at sustainable soft plastic disposal, but has again suffered disruptions.

The company was recently forced to pause processing for several months after an equipment failure.

“We’ve been hit twice, but we’re resilient,” Steve Morriss, head of circular economy at the company, tells 糖心Vlog.

He says processing has restarted and is optimistic about the business’ future, but admits that soft plastic is a “very complex” waste stream.

Experts say Close the Loop isn’t alone in facing difficult conditions and warn disruptions will continue as the soft plastics recycling industry finds its feet.

“As it does become mature in Australia, you will see a lot of fluctuation in how much gets recovered and how much gets stockpiled,” says Dr Ben Madden from the University of Technology Sydney’s Institute for Sustainable Futures.

“Consumers can expect a lot of ups and downs and starts and stops,” he adds.

With their current program, the supermarkets say they’re being careful to not exceed “limited local recycling capacity”.

And while they have recently expanded collections to new stores, they admit there isn’t yet enough capacity in Australia to support a nationwide deposit scheme.

Effective methods may prove controversial

Experts say new recycling techniques could boost capacity, but admit they may not receive complete public support.

APR Plastics, a recycling partner of Recycle Smart and some local councils, has been experimenting with attempts to turn soft plastics into oil. This oil can then be refined and used in new plastic products, but also as an energy source.

APR isn’t alone in this ambition 鈥� Victorian refiner Viva Energy has previously announced plans to upgrade its facilities to be able to process oil made from plastic waste.

This feedstock would be used in the production of new plastic products, but also vehicle fuels.

Plastic experts admit this approach could face stigma but say it’s one of the most effective ways to deal with plastic waste.

“That’s really the way we’re headed,” says Dr Melissa Skidmore, a senior research scientist working with the CSIRO’s Ending Plastic Waste initiative.

“It’s infinitely more useful [than other forms of recycling] because you basically turn that plastic back into virgin material,” she says.

By breaking soft plastic down to its chemical building blocks, the process allows it to be reused in more ways, including in fuels, but also new food-grade packaging.

But experts say this approach is currently far from constituting a significant solution.

In the meantime, Dr Skidmore says consumers should maintain faith in current efforts to tackle soft plastic waste.

“Have confidence, but be patient because, unfortunately, this area is moving very slowly.”

How to use less soft plastic

If you don’t have access to a soft plastic recycling scheme, you should be putting this material in a general waste bin.

As collection and recycling initiatives expand, here are some tips for how to use less soft plastic:

• Use reusable shopping and fresh produce bags at the supermarket.
• Buy loose fruit and vegetables (they’re often cheaper than packaged).
• Use food covers/beeswax wrap and reusable containers instead of cling wrap and sandwich bags.
• Opt for more products such as toilet paper or tissues that come in cardboard boxes without plastic wrappings or attachments.
• Buy food items such as grains, rice and pasta from bulk food stores.

The post What’s happening with soft plastic recycling? appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

As consumers and governments around the world rail against shrinkflation, Christmas products are among the latest to become smaller and more expensive.

糖心Vlog has uncovered five festive foods that have recently shrunk, while their prices have risen or stayed the same.

The manufacturers of these items are blaming rising production costs and changing customer tastes, but 糖心Vlog believes retailers should be doing more to help consumers spot shrinkflation.

Growing frustration at shrinking groceries

Shrinkflation is when a manufacturer reduces the size of an item, but doesn’t extend this cut to the price, meaning consumers end up paying the same amount 鈥� or in some cases, even more 鈥� for less product.

糖心Vlog supporters have been expressing frustration at the practice for years, but now politicians are also increasingly calling it out, as Australians continue to experience a cost-of-living crisis.

Just this year, the federal government promised it would soon be cracking down on the phenomenon.

Since our last shrinkflation investigation, supermarkets 鈥� some of which have given the shrinkflation treatment to their own home brand items 鈥� have been grilled by the ACCC over the practice and whether they could be doing more to protect consumers from it.

In the meantime, shrinkflation is hitting Australians already struggling with the cost of food and groceries. 糖心Vlog Consumer Pulse data from September shows 87% of households were concerned by how much they were spending on these goods.

糖心Vlog senior campaigns and policy adviser Bea Sherwood says the latest round of shrinkflation exposed by 糖心Vlog will cut into consumers’ purchasing power at a time when we’re opening our wallets for the festive season.

“Consumers will be heading to the shops this Christmas surprised to see that some of their favourite holiday products are not only smaller, but more expensive,” she says.

“This is just another way that the major supermarkets and food manufacturers are letting consumers down, with many people trying to stretch their budgets at this busy time of year.”

Christmas shrinkflation revealed

Many of the latest shrinkers we’ve uncovered will likely be popular choices for those stocking up for this year’s festivities.

But they’re also just a few of the potentially numerous examples of shrinkflation impacting products on our shelves.听

Have you seen more examples of Christmas shrinkflation other than those below? Let us know on the or contact the author

Woolworths festive foods feel the pinch

Woolworths own-brand tarts are among our latest shrinkflation examples, with two different varieties of these popular festive treats becoming smaller and more expensive.

In the lead up to Christmas last year, Woolworths was selling its home brand Rocky Road and Salted Caramel tarts in 240g and 210g packets, respectively.

Both products are now only available in 180g packets and have seen their price increase from $7.50 to $8.

The changes have hit buyers of the rocky road variety particularly hard 鈥� they’re now paying 42% more per 100g of the sweet treats than they did last year.

Woolworths says the shift to lighter tarts was “primarily driven by customer feedback requesting a finer, crispier shell”.

The supermarket says the increases in price, meanwhile, were the result of rising production costs, some of which stemmed from the higher price of cocoa, which spiked to record levels earlier this year.

Lindt chocolates getting lighter

Shrinkflation isn’t just caused by supermarkets cutting back on their own-brand ranges 鈥� flagship international manufacturers are also scrimping on their offerings.

One of these is Swiss chocolate giant Lindt & Spr眉ngli, which has reduced the heft of some of its packaged Lindt chocolate products.

Included are varieties destined to be shared over the festive season, such as the Christmas Medley Bag, which shrunk from 414g in November last year to 390g this year, with the RRP staying at $36.

Meanwhile, the company’s Limited Edition Champagne Gala Box has become even more limited, going from 433g for $34 to 396g for $36 over a similar period.

Lindt says high cocoa prices are behind the cutbacks, with the company reducing packet sizes and raising prices to compensate for this larger overhead.

Christmas cake loses mass

Few foods symbolise Christmas more than the cake that carries its name, but even this traditional favourite isn’t safe from shrinkflation.

Discount supermarket Aldi sells single servings of iced Christmas cake under its Kringle & Co brand during the festive season.听

But the 90g version currently advertised is lacking something 鈥� namely the extra 10g it had last year.

The current iteration is also more expensive at $2.39. The 100g serving was being sold for $2.29 last October.

Aldi didn’t explain why it reduced the size of its cake, but says it understands that shrinking its products is unpopular with customers and it only does this when completely necessary.

What’s being done about shrinkflation?

Governments have recognised the frustration shrinkflation causes shoppers and the toll this hidden form of inflation takes on their wallets.

Earlier this year, the federal government announced it will be by strengthening the rules for how supermarkets display unit pricing 鈥� the breakdown of how much an item costs per 100g or 100ml.

The government wants to improve the readability and visibility of these prices, address inconsistencies among the units of measurement used, and introduce penalties for supermarkets that break unit pricing rules.

“While 糖心Vlog welcomes proposed changes to fix unit pricing, they should go further to make it crystal clear to consumers when a product has been affected by shrinkflation,” says Sherwood.

“We need labels on shelves notifying shoppers when a product has shrunk but the price remains the same or has increased.”

Australian retailers wouldn’t be the first to do this 鈥� French supermarket chain Carrefour used signage to draw attention to shrinkflation affecting certain products last year.

The post Five festive foods hit by Christmas shrinkflation appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

On this page:

• What is shrinkflation?
• Revealed: The latest examples of shrinkflation
• Why is shrinkflation happening?
• Is shrinkflation illegal?

UPDATE: 糖心Vlog welcomes the federal government’s announcement on 3 October 2024 that it plans to combat shrinkflation by strengthening the unit pricing code and introducing penalties for breaches of these rules.

Easter favourites, breakfast cereals, chips and cleaning products are among the latest grocery goods to be hit by shrinkflation.

Businesses have admitted to reducing the size of these items, and in some cases hiking retail prices, blaming rising costs and attempts to simplify production.

糖心Vlog has tips for how you can spot shrinkflation, but we believe retailers owe it to shoppers to be upfront about products that have decreased in size but not in price.

What is shrinkflation?

Shrinkflation is when a manufacturer reduces the size of an item it produces, but doesn’t extend this to the price, meaning consumers end up paying the same amount 鈥� or in some cases, even more 鈥� for less product.

糖心Vlog supporters have been tipping us off about shrinkflation consistently over the past two years, calling out times they’ve seen their favourite products getting scrimped on.

“We’ve heard from countless shoppers who are feeling frustrated by the prevalence of shrinkflation in supermarkets,” says 糖心Vlog senior campaigns and policy adviser Bea Sherwood.

“People turn up to the shops to find the products they often buy have been reduced in size, and in some cases the price has increased.”

This erosion in value for money comes as many Australians continue to grapple with the cost of living.

In our January Consumer Pulse survey of households, two-thirds told us they were either finding it difficult or only getting by on their current income.

Revealed: The latest examples of shrinkflation

Acting on public tip-offs and analysis of our own data, 糖心Vlog has uncovered some of the latest examples of products getting smaller and more expensive.

We’ve also asked the companies responsible for these goods to explain why this is happening.

Cereals lead the (shrinking) pack

This breakfast staple is a serial offender when it comes to shrinkflation, having featured heavily in our previous investigations into shrinking pack sizes.

In our latest probe, we’ve uncovered more examples of shoppers getting poorer value for money in the cereal aisle.

First up is Coles’ Mighty Grain, which was being sold in 560g packets in October 2022, but can now only be found in 495g packages. Yet it remains the same price at $4.50.

The years also haven’t been kind to the supermarket’s own brand of corn flakes, which shrank from 475g in October 2022 to 440g today. Meanwhile, the price went in the opposite direction, increasing 20 cents to $2.10.

Woolworths has also been downsizing home brand breakfast items 鈥� its Max Charge cereal was sold in 560g packs until September last year, when the retailer started offering it in 495g portions instead.

In that time, the price has stayed the same at $4.50, meaning what you’ll pay for each 100g of the cereal has increased by almost 14%.

Easter favourite guilty of shrinking sin

In unwelcome news for many of us stocking up ahead of Easter, hot cross buns have also been hit by the latest wave of shrinkflation.

Community Co’s traditional and chocolate varieties have both shrunk by 30g since last year, going from 480g to 450g. They’ve also gone up in price, from $4.00 to $4.50.

Chips and biscuits crumble in value

Chips is another area where we’ve seen shrinkage in the past, and here again we’re noticing home brand offerings getting smaller.

Woolworths’ original salted corn chips were $2.30 for 200g in October 2023. The price may have stayed the same, but you now get just 175g for your trouble.

On top of paying almost 14% more per 100g of corn chips, you might find yourself with less condiment to dip them in.

Red Rock Deli’s range of deli-style dips has also undergone cutbacks, with its 150g tubs shrinking to 135g between December 2021 and the time of writing.

And any sweet tooths hoping their go-to snacks might be a refuge from shrinkflation are also in for disappointment.

Fans of McVities’ Go Ahead range of “forest fruit”-flavoured biscuits have been getting less munch for their money recently, with the packets going from 218g and retailing for $4.40 in June 2022, to 174g for the same price now.

The brand’s iconic digestive biscuits are also seeing some scrimpage, going from 400g to 355g. The retail price, meanwhile, has remained stuck at $4.40.

Cleaning products providing less spray for pay

It’s not just food products where we’re seeing shrinkage. Your cleaning products are not immune to the downsizing.

If you’re a long-time user of Jif’s Power & Shine Bathroom cleaner, you’ll find yourself getting fewer sprays from the bottle than you used to.

In May 2022, you got 700ml for $2.50. Now, you get 500ml for $4, meaning the cost of each 100ml has increased by over 122%.

Why is shrinkflation happening?

Brands that shrink the sizes of their products consistently tell us it’s in response to rising production costs.

In other words, putting less of a product in a package or making the package itself smaller helps keep a lid on the cost of doing business.

Because shrinkflation can be more difficult to spot than a straightforward increase in retail price, it’s a more subtle way for companies to try to pass these rising costs onto consumers.

Passing the buck

This time around, Coles and Woolworths both told us the changes in the pack sizes of their cereals and chips were requested by the suppliers of these goods.

The supermarkets said they had not profited or benefited financially from these changes and any cost relief was being retained by the suppliers, who were facing rising production costs. 糖心Vlog was not able to reach the suppliers to confirm this.

In a statement, Community Co owner Metcash told us it recently moved the production of its hot cross buns to a different maker and this manufacturer’s capabilities had dictated a reduction in pack size to 450g.

The IGA parent company also mentioned higher prices for certain ingredients, along with including more chocolate in its chocolate buns recipe, as reasons for the product’s price hike.

Meanwhile, Red Rock Deli dip maker Obela says the cost of producing these products has gone up “substantially” and this is why they’ve decided to downsize.

Unilever (Jif Power & Shine Bathroom cleaner) didn’t wish to comment, and United Biscuits (McVities) didn’t respond to our queries.

Are Woolworths mud cakes getting smaller?

Shrinkflation accusations have been flying thick and fast on social media recently, after online personalities alleged Woolworths had shrunk its version of the iconic supermarket-brand chocolate mud cake from 600g to 585g.

But Woolworths says this isn’t shrinkflation, rather two differently-sized versions of the same product being available at different stores.

This was confirmed by 糖心Vlog, with Woolworths’ website showing both products simultaneously in stock at different outlets in Sydney.

Is shrinkflation illegal?

“Unfortunately, the practice of shrinkflation is not illegal,” explains Bea Sherwood from 糖心Vlog.

“In France, Carrefour supermarkets recently made the decision to warn consumers when products had shrunk in size and cost more, but there is nothing requiring supermarkets here to disclose shrinkflation,” she says.

.

“Supermarkets should be required to let consumers know when a product has changed in size and value, so that people can make informed decisions when they do their shopping,” Sherwood says.

^{*糖心Vlog Consumer Pulse January 2024 is based on an online survey designed and analysed by 糖心Vlog. 1,058 Australian households responded to the survey with quotas applied to ensure coverage across all age groups, genders and locations in each state and territory across metropolitan and regional areas. The data was weighted to ensure it is representative of the Australian population based on the 2021 ABS Census data. Fieldwork was conducted from the 16th of January until the 5th of February, 2024.}

The post 10 grocery items hit by shrinkflation in 2024 appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

On this page:

• 1. Lithium batteries
• 2. Electronics
• 3. Whitegoods
• 4. Mattresses
• 5. Polystyrene
• Can I still recycle soft plastics?
• Things you might think you can recycle, but can't

Recycling has been a routine for many Australian households for over 20 years, but not everyone is using the system as much as they could be.

In a 2020 study, Monash University found that while just over half of Victorian households had taken advantage of return to store recycling schemes, fewer had used council programs, drop-off events or post-back services to get difficult items recycled.

Granted, these services often aren’t available everywhere in Australia, but they may be more accessible than you think.听

There are an increasing number of options available for arranging a more sustainable send-off for common items you might have thought were only ever destined for landfill.

If you’re looking to dispose of one of the items listed below and there isn’t a program available near you, it’s best to put it in your general household rubbish bin, as putting any of them in your recycling bin can actually contaminate the recycling stream.

1. Lithium batteries

Rechargeable lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries are increasingly finding their way into our lives and they’re no longer just powering our devices, but also our bikes, scooters and cars.

It’s estimated that each Australian home will hold an average of 33 lithium-powered devices by 2026.

Like other batteries, these shouldn’t go in the bin when they die, mainly because they can cause fires when damaged, but also because they contain chemicals that can contaminate the environment when left in landfill.听

They also hold many useful (and finite) resources that can be reused.

If you’ve got a lithium battery you need to dispose of, recycling services are readily available.

You can drop small, handheld lithium batteries (the type found in phones and smart wearables) into dedicated bins at Woolworths and Aldi stores.

Officeworks also accepts small batteries, as well as larger batteries from laptops, while shoppers at Bunnings can drop off unwanted lithium power tool batteries.

All four of these outlets also accept other types of household batteries, but none of them accept larger lithium units, like those used on e-bikes and scooters.

If you have a large lithium battery you need to dispose of, look for a service near you by searching via or .

When dropping off any sort of battery, it’s a good idea to put sticky tape over the terminals. These are protruding points that serve as the electrical connection point of the battery.听

For more information on how to do this, see聽.

2. Electronics

Computers, smartphones and other electronic appliances are now coming in and out of our lives quicker than ever.

It’s just as well that 99% of the materials in products like smartphones can be recycled and there are free services that can help make this happen.

is an industry-backed initiative that operates drop-off points at supermarkets, phone stores and some councils, where you can deposit phones and accessories for sustainable disposal.

You can also mail your old phone in for free using a prepaid satchel, which you can get via Mobile Muster’s website, or from an Australia Post or JB Hi-Fi outlet. Some new phones come with the satchel included.

Got a TV, computer or laptop you want to get rid of? The National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme (NTCRS) organises drop-off points for these items and their accessories, making sure they’re recycled for free.

Officeworks and other retailers participate, along with and .

You can also search for recycling services on , or check with your local council to see if they can pick up and recycle larger electronics.

3. Whitegoods

Whitegoods, such as fridges, washers, dryers and dishwashers, are prime candidates for recycling, considering they’re packed with finite resources and take up lots of space in landfill.

Proper disposal is essential for older fridges and freezers, which can leak dangerous gases if they’re not dismantled or recycled appropriately.

If you’re replacing your old whitegoods with something new, the retailer may take your old model away for recycling.

You can also employ the services of a commercial recycler (for a fee) or organise a council pickup, but be aware that some councils may send unwanted whitegoods to landfill instead of recycling them.

4. Mattresses

Mattresses are another item that can cause havoc in landfill, taking up almost a cubic metre of space on average and taking over 100 years to decompose.

Like whitegoods, they also contain useful components that don’t deserve to be put to bed prematurely.

is a not-for-profit that works to make sure this doesn’t happen. Operating across parts of NSW, Victoria, WA and the ACT, they take in mattresses via pickups and drop-offs and from some councils who collect them from residents.

They then deconstruct each mattress, selling on the components for use in carpet manufacturing and construction.

If Soft Landing doesn’t operate in your area, see if your council recycles mattresses or if any local reuse services in your area do, by checking Planet Ark’s .听

You can also check with the manufacturer or retailer you bought your mattress from to see if they will take it back for recycling, or if another local mattress shop can do this for you.听

, for example, invites anyone not serviced by a council pickup to contact their nearest store for recycling options.

5. Polystyrene

Polystyrene or Styrofoam (a common brand of polystyrene) has long been a popular packaging material due to its light weight and shock absorbing qualities.听

However, its plastic foundation, brittle nature and the ease with which wind can carry it out of landfill (where it also takes up lots of space and many years to break down) has given it a reputation as an unwieldy ecological villain.

This isn’t helped by the fact that it takes up lots of space, but doesn’t weigh very much, making it difficult to transport and recycle in a cost-effective way.

But some organisations are giving it a go, usually by melting the material into solid bricks that can then be turned into other plastic products.

To see if your polystyrene can be recycled, start by going to Planet Ark’s聽聽and filtering by “Polystyrene”. This should reveal any local services that recycle polystyrene, but be aware that some are commercial services that cost money.

Local councils in multiple states also operate free polystyrene recycling programs via community waste drop-off locations, so search your local authority’s website or contact them to see if they’re one of them.

It’s worth also checking what forms of polystyrene they take 鈥� they all generally accept the large foam blocks that come with packaging, but some won’t take the trays that come with packaged foods or drink containers.

In all cases, you should make sure any polystyrene you take in for recycling is white, in rigid pieces (rather than loose packaging or bean bag beads), clean, dry and doesn’t have anything stuck to it.

And, if none of these services are operating in your area, you should put your polystyrene in your general rubbish bin and never kerbside recycling.

How do I know if it’s polystyrene?

Polystyrene can sometimes be confused with other foam materials that come with packaging, such as low density polyethylene.

Check if you’re holding polystyrene by looking for the code聽“6 PS”聽printed or stamped onto the material.

Can I still recycle soft plastics?

The REDcycle soft plastics recycling program was suspended in November 2022, after 11 years of operation.

Under this program, people could deposit soft plastics (like plastic bags or other plastic materials that you can scrunch in your hand) at collection points outside major supermarkets.

To fill the gap left by the suspension of the program, some councils are now accepting soft plastics for recycling, so check if your local council is offering this service.

Some councils have also partnered with and are offering free pickups of soft plastics and other difficult-to-recycle items, such as e-waste, for sustainable disposal, but these are so far limited to metro Sydney.

In other areas, including Melbourne, the company runs a paid service.

Coles, Woolworths and Aldi have also announced they’re working together to launch their own soft plastics recycling scheme, which they say could begin appearing in select stores by the end of this year.

Things you might think you can recycle, but can’t

Some items can cause more harm than good if you try and recycle them.

Dirty food containers

Too much food, liquid or grease can contaminate recyclables and prevent them from being turned into higher-quality materials down the track.

Plastic or cardboard can’t be turned into new materials when there’s food stuck to it.听For items like jars or plastic containers with minimal food remains, wiping or washing them should be enough to make them recyclable.

Small amounts of household glass

Broken fragments of household glass, such as from drinkware or windows, can’t accompany jars or bottles in the household recycling, as they don’t melt at the same temperature as these items and therefore cause havoc in the repurposing process.

There are commercial services that recycle household and architectural glass, but they tend to work in amounts larger than what you’re going to be left with after one small broken window or wine glass.

Therefore, it’s best to wrap up broken glass and crockery in several layers of newspaper and put it in the general rubbish.

Biodegradable or compostable plastics

Keep plastic products marketed as being biodegradable or compostable out of your recycling bin, as they can disrupt efforts to repurpose general plastics.听

What’s more, these materials may not actually break down sufficiently when put in household organic bins.

Unless the label says the product is Home Compostable (meaning it should break down in a home compost bin), it’s best to put these items in general waste.

The post Five surprising things you didn’t know you could recycle appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

The not-for-profit Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) has an ambitious goal 鈥� to make sure all packaging that’s made, used or sold in Australia is recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.听

Set in 2018, the were the result of extensive industry and government consultation in Australia and are in line with the ambitious sustainable packaging initiatives being rolled out around the world.听

Full recyclability is just one of the four targets, and it seems we’re making pretty good progress on that front.

Former APCO CEO Brooke Donnelly told us last year that 86% of the approximately 6.3 million tonnes of packaging that makes its way through the Australian market every year is designed to be recycled here. (Donnelly was succeeded by current CEO Chris Foley in June last year.)聽

Due to inefficient recycling processes and gaps in consumer understanding, however, only about half of it (55%) gets recycled and reused. The rest goes to our ever-expanding landfill sites.听

Packaging waste remains a major sustainability issue.听

To achieve its goals for the greater good, APCO has been working with manufacturers in a stewardship role to help them reduce the amount of non-recyclable materials they use.听

Expert review of appliance packaging

Over recent months, 糖心Vlog collected and catalogued the packaging materials that came with some of the products we test in our labs.听

We set aside the packaging from kettles, air fryers and stick vacuums 鈥� 38 products in all 鈥� manufactured by some of Australia’s most popular appliance brands, including Breville, Philips, Kambrook, Anko and Dyson.听

In early November, 糖心Vlog hosted a review of these packaging materials with the help of representatives from APCO and the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP).听

The packaging experts used APCO’s 聽as a basis for evaluating the packaging. They provided expert analysis and comments on how each of the product packages performed in terms of sustainability and identified what was and wasn’t recyclable in Australia.听

Drawing on the information provided by APCO and the AIP, 糖心Vlog continued the analysis, counting how many packaging components were in each box, determining how many of these were recyclable, recording the number of REDcycle components (plastic bags labelled for soft plastics recycling), and checking for the use of non-recyclable foam. We also reviewed the recycling and disposal labelling.

Too much polystyrene, not enough cardboard聽

The results of the evaluation reveal that some manufacturers are doing substantially better than others in the product categories we checked when it comes to reducing packaging waste.听

(We evaluated a limited number of product packages from each manufacturer. It’s possible that those with unsustainable practices in one product category may be doing better in other categories.)聽

While many are using recyclable cardboard and fibre to package their products, others are still using blocks of landfill-bound polystyrene and other non-recyclable plastic materials 鈥� sometimes in excessive amounts.听

And where some manufacturers are using just a few packaging components made of the same or similar material 鈥� thereby making it easier for consumers to recycle 鈥� others pack their products in a complicated array of materials, making it difficult to separate and therefore more likely to end up in landfill.听

In addition, many manufacturers are still using non-recyclable plastic three-pin plug protectors and plastic-coated wire ties instead of more sustainable options.听

In nearly all cases, manufacturers are not doing a very good job of making it clear to consumers in their package labelling which components are recyclable and what consumers should do with them. This is where the Australasian Recycling Label, or ARL, comes in, but more on that later.

Overall results and key findings

REDcycle soft plastics recycling on hold

None of the boxes in our evaluation were free of plastic packaging components. Thirty out of 38 products used soft plastics compatible with the , and these were noted as being recyclable when the assessment was done by the APCO and AIP experts.听

As of 9 November 2022, however, the REDcycle program has paused its collection of soft plastics, and advised customers and consumers to place the soft plastic into the general waste bin (unless your local council has advised otherwise) until a solution is found.听

The challenges facing the REDcycle scheme highlight the lack of a robust soft plastics recycling infrastructure in Australia.听

Full recyclability hard to come by

Only one product had fully recyclable packaging (including three REDcycle components) 鈥� the Black & Decker stick vacuum. Thirteen products had just one non-recyclable component, often a small plastic power plug protector. Our external experts noted that these plastic components could and should be replaced by paper or cardboard components.

Only two products (the Philips air fryers) indicated on the outer box that the boxes were made of at least 90% recyclable material. The boxes for the Breville and Kambrook products noted that they聽were “printed on recycled paper”, but other packaging lacked such claims.听

The findings indicate that manufacturers on the whole need to do more if the goal of getting rid of all non-recyclable packaging is to be met, including the phasing out of problematic and unnecessary plastic packaging.

Overuse of expanded foam

Nearly 60% (23) of the product packages contained non-recyclable expanded plastic foams, such as polystyrene and polyethylene (colloquially known as Styrofoam). Expanded polystyrene (EPS) has been flagged by APCO as a material of concern and the organisation is working with the Australian government and industry to phase out its use as part of the National Plastics Plan, but no deadline to achieve this goal has been set.听

Expanded foam was often present in the form of moulded bases and infill components. A number of products used foam bags, which are not easily recognisable as foam or as a non-recyclable item. The APCO and AIP experts made the point that foam packaging components could and should be replaced by cardboard, paper and moulded fibre. Fifteen products, across all three product categories on test, had no plastic foam components, indicating that phasing out foam is achievable.

Recycling and disposal labelling聽

The boxes we evaluated featured a variety of different symbols, including the familiar Litterman logo (illustration of a figure putting rubbish in a bin), the Mobius Loop recycling symbol (three arrows forming a loop) and the Plastics Identification Code (three arrows forming a triangle containing a number from 1鈥�7).听聽

But we also identified a number of miscellaneous markings that were not easily decipherable. Without an explanation of what these symbols mean, consumers would be understandably confused about whether the materials are recyclable and what to do with them. Some boxes also had symbols in areas not easily found. The Smeg Electric Kettle box, for instance, had a Litterman logo side-by-side with a recyclable label on the bottom of the outer box.

While a variety of recycling labels were used, none of the packaging carried the Australian Recycling Label (ARL) 鈥� an APCO-led initiative aimed at giving consumers in Australia and New Zealand clear information about what goes where 鈥� the recycling bin, rubbish bin, or back to the store. Many retailers in Australia have embraced the ARL.听

Eight product packages contained no recycling instructions on the outer box, indicating that some manufacturers could do better in communicating how best to dispose of their packaging.听

Product-by-product evaluation results聽

We counted the number of individual packaging components in each product box with the help of our experts, who also helped to identify what was and wasn’t recyclable. We then calculated the percentage of recyclable components for each product. The higher the percentage, the more recyclable components the packaging contains.

We also counted the number of REDcycle components in each box and made a note of whether foam-based materials were used. And we recorded the recycling and disposal labels and noted whether or not the packaging was marked with the ARL. Our APCO and AIP experts included comments on how each product did in terms of the overall recyclability of its packaging components.听

础产产谤别惫颈补迟颈辞苍蝉:听

• EPS 鈥� non-recyclable expanded polystyrene foam
• EPE 鈥� non-recyclable expanded polyethylene foam
• PE – polyethylene

Note: While the REDcycle soft plastics recycling scheme is currently on hold, it was in operation when these packages were manufactured and was therefore included in the experts’ recyclability evaluations.

What APCO and the AIP want to see from manufacturers聽

• Become a and commit to .
• Include the 聽(ARL) on boxes so consumers know how to correctly dispose of each part of the packaging.听
• When using thin plastic bags to hold components, join the REDcycle soft plastics (currently suspended).听
• Replace the non-recyclable plastic cover protecting three-pin plugs with a cardboard or moulded fibre protector.听
• Replace non-recyclable plastic coated wire ties with a velcro tie that stays with the cord.

The post 糖心Vlog review of appliance packaging finds plenty of non-recyclables appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

On this page:

• Council recycling options
• Non-council recycling options
• Reuse, rehome or recycle?
• Recycling and consumer responsibility

There’s always that moment when you’re about to put something into the recycling bin when you wonder: can this be recycled?

We can’t recycle everything, but in Australia we do have some great recycling facilities, and they’re growing all the time as we realise the opportunities to extract valuable materials from existing products that no longer have a useful life.听

At the same time, consumers are helping more and more products make their way to recycling facilities as this process becomes more embedded into the Australian consciousness.

Council recycling options

Your local council is your first point of contact for recycling near you. Commonly just putting your local council and recycling into a search engine will take you to the appropriate page.听

What you can recycle will depend on where you are and what your local council facilitates.听

Where possible, local councils recycle across a basic range of materials such as paper, plastics and metals.

Some councils also offer drop-off, collection and recycling centres for electronic waste (e-waste) and chemicals, and/or hard rubbish or kerbside pickups. Councils will detail what’s available on the waste and recycling section of their website.

Sometimes this is a little more difficult in regional areas where the travel miles for getting some recyclable products to extraction sites are just not feasible for a council to afford.

Glass

Many forms of glass can be recycled, but there do tend to be restrictions on broken glass, window panes or oven glass from the mixed rubbish bins supplied by some councils.

Paper/cardboard

A significant proportion of recycled materials over the last few decades has been paper and cardboard products. These can generally be recycled through your local council, though there are limitations on how often paper and cardboard can be recycled. Every time paper or cardboard is recycled, the fibres get smaller and smaller and are difficult to recycle into other products.

Some councils require clean paper/cardboard only, and may need dirty paper or cardboard to go in the general waste or organic waste bins. Again, check in with your local council.

Plastics

Hard plastics can also be recycled by many councils, however the complexity of the types of plastics often get in the way of effective recycling.听

You’ll have seen the numbers 1 to 7 embossed within a triangle on most plastic containers, which indicate the type of plastic they’e made from. While all can be recycled with the right technology, not all councils can recycle all numbers. Most commonly 1 and 2 can be recycled through your local council, but again, you’ll need to check with your council.

Organic waste/food waste

A more recent phenomenon is food waste disposal through council bins, which is especially useful for apartment dwellers who don’t have access to a garden, compost or worm farm.听

Organic or garden waste bins are sometimes supplied by councils for cuttings, grass, weeds and many of the other wastes that come from the average Australian garden. There may be limitations on the size of branches that can be deposited in these kinds of bins. Some councils go above and beyond and return branches mulched for you to use in your garden.

More resources

One of the better sites for finding out what’s available in your backyard is PlanetArk’s site, where you can just plug in your postcode to see what’s available to you. South Australia has a facility called which is particularly useful, and would be great for all councils to adopt.

Non-council recycling options

Recycling programs are continually being developed. You may not have realised that some of these products below were already part of Australia’s recycling programs.

Batteries

Stores such as Aldi, Battery World, Ikea, Bunnings and Officeworks provide bins for recycling batteries.

Beverage containers

One initiative that’s been around in some states for a long time, and has only started in the last few years in others, is an incentive program for returning some drinking containers (typically glass, aluminium and plastic) for a small amount of money in return.听

Called ‘Container Deposit’ in the Northern Territory, the ACT and South Australia, ‘Return and Earn’ and ‘ReturnIt’ in NSW, and ‘Containers for Change’ in Queensland and WA, these programs are great examples of incentivising consumers to recycle. Victoria and Tasmania plan to implement a container deposit scheme in 2023.

Coffee capsules/pods

Both and provide recycling options for the plethora of machines currently in use around Australia.

Eyeglasses

Lions Club currently runs a program to recycle eyeglasses called .

Lights

There are a couple of areas that facilitate the recycling of light globes, including Ikea and the Lighting Council of Australia program ‘FluoroCycle’.

Mattresses

RecycleMyMattress links through to , a mattress recycler that reuses around 75% of your recycled mattress.

Mobile phones

The best known mobile recycling program is .

Medicines

You can return medicines that you no longer need to the聽 program, but they don’t recycle them. Chemist’s Own and TerraCycle have partnered to .

Soft plastics聽

In the past few years you may have seen聽, an organisation that facilitates soft plastic recycling into different products. But unfortunately it’s recently paused its recycling program due to viability issues. REDCycle claimed to use soft plastics to develop products such as concrete replacement, shopping trolleys and other materials.

Paint

runs a program that allows households to drop off their unwanted paints.

Printer cartridges

runs a project to recycle printer cartridges, returning them to the manufacturer.

Further resources

The , and websites all list recycling options for items you may be surprised can be recycled.

Reuse, rehome or recycle?

Recycling is part of the way we can maintain our standard of living by maximising the value of the materials that make up the products we use every day.听

There can be many options to get more life out of a product before you put it into the recycling bin. But where something cannot be reused, sold on or any of the other myriad opportunities to reutilise a product, it enters its final phase of life. This is the extraction of the materials it was made from and turning those materials into new products 鈥� or recycling.

The way in which products are recycled, and whether they can be recycled, varies according to the product and whether there are facilities to do the recycling.听

Often this means transport to get the product to the facilities that can do the work, energy to break down the product and extract the materials, and the transport of those extracted materials to manufacturing sites where they’ll go into new products.

The 9R framework

The circular economy ‘9R’ framework details the product life cycle, and puts Recycling at stage 8 of the 9 stages.

When a product can’t be used any longer, nor can it be sold on, or reused or repurposed by another in any useful capacity, and cannot be repaired, the 9R hierarchy advises that only then should recycling be considered 鈥� and where that isn’t possible, recovery.

Recycling and consumer responsibility

The perception of product stewardship is changing over time. Where once it may have meant enabling recycling, these days it’s driving more towards its original intent: taking ownership of a product from design through to end of life.听

Where once design was considered purely aesthetic or functional, these days the product stewardship is more encouraging of design to incorporate waste management and environmental impacts.听

This responsibility is shared among all the facets of a product, from manufacturers, government and waste collectors through to retailers and consumers.

It’s easy to not recycle, but the waste management industry that provides jobs and resources for more products slows and breaks down if we don’t.听

Ultimately everyone has a responsibility to recycle 鈥� from industry to government to consumers 鈥� so that we can grab hold of those resources before they get buried or burned, and reuse them.听

That effort is a small price to pay for maintaining and advancing our way of life while reducing our impact on the environment.

The post What you can recycle 鈥� and where appeared first on 糖心Vlog.