Green & ethical consumption - Consumers' Federation of Australia

9 August , 2021

Consumers International releases statement on the future of food

To mark this year’s UN Food Systems Summit being held in late September, Consumers International (CI) has prepared a global consumer advocacy statement on the future of food. The statement contains a set of people-centred solutions for the development of healthy, safe, fair, and sustainable food systems. CI is the membership organisation for over 200…

28 April , 2021

Morrison Government powering up household battery recycling

The Morrison Government is helping maximise opportunities for Australia’s manufacturers while also driving down emissions and protecting the environment, with funding. This is a joint media release from Minister for the Environment, the Hon Sussan Ley MP and Federal Member for Chisholm, the Hon Gladys Liu MP, originally published on 23rd April, 2021. Batteries are…

2 February , 2021

Why an electric vehicle?

Electric vehicles (that use minimal to no fuel) are becoming more popular and Australian consumers need to feel confident electric transportation will meet the challenges facing the Australian landscape, such as the size of our county or capability of our electricity grid. According to the Australian Electric Vehicle Market Study Report Electric Vehicles (EVs) are expected to…

14 October , 2020

World Standards Day 2020 – Protecting the Planet with Standards

On World Standard Day, CFA recognises the efforts of the volunteers who represent CFA on Standards Australia Technical Committees. Each year on the 14 October, the members of standards making organisations celebrate World Standards Day – This year’s theme is Protecting the Planet with Standards. Currently CFA has representation on a number of committees that are developing…

4 September , 2020

Voluntary battery stewardship scheme granted authorisation

The Battery Stewardship Council (BSC) will be able to establish and operate a national scheme for managing expired batteries under an authorisation granted by the ACCC. BSC was formed in 2018 with the primary goal of establishing a battery stewardship scheme in Australia that would see a significant increase in battery collections and recycling. Batteries…

2 September , 2020

What can I do about improving the environment?

Consumers are more aware of environmental issues than ever before and feeling anxious about the state of the planet. There are many opportunities to contribute to global projects working on improving the environment. You can help find out how much plastic pollution there is globally by uploading images of pollution when you see it –…

20 May , 2020

New Research: Plastic recycling labelling confusing and inconsistent

Today, Consumers International, UNEP and One Planet Network released their global assessment of recycling and sustainability labelling on plastic packaging. The research found only 19% of assessed labels give consumers quality information to make informed recycling and purchasing decisions. In response, we have created five global recommendations for action to engage business, policy makers and standard setters…

7 April , 2020

Five factors driving sustainable consumption

The sustainable consumer is a key element of a better world and essential to overcoming adverse events such as pandemics. According to Consumers International, five major factors will drive sustainable consumption in the future: Consumer demand for more sustainability information Sustainable mobility and ridesharing Circular design and sustainable fashion The drive for sustainable packaging Building products to last –…

12 February , 2020

US and EU laws show Australia’s Right to Repair moment is well overdue

Australians are buying more and more gadgets and devices. Our homes and workplaces seem to be filled with smart phones, drones, Fitbits, internet- connected fridges, air-conditioners that turn off when people leave the room: anything that makes our lives more convenient. Behind the scenes, of course, is a growing pile of discarded, broken devices. The…

22 January , 2020

Proposed battery recycling scheme to combat waste

Battery waste is a growing problem in Australia; in 2014 it was estimated that Australia was generating 17,500 tonnes of waste in batteries, or 700 million batteries based on an equivalent battery unit. 97% of all batteries were being inappropriately disposed of in landfill and impacting on the environment. It is proposed that an industry-led…

4 December , 2019

ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard provides address to CFA’s annual general meeting

In her address, Delia Rickard noted that issues raised by consumer organisations with the ACCC commonly form part of its priorities for compliance and enforcement. Delia noted that consumer groups have recently raised issues such as funeral services, debt collection, product safety and sustainability which will be considered for future priorities. Other trends and issues identified by…

2 October , 2019

Five trends driving progress towards Sustainable Consumption

When we look at our global consumption in numbers, we are given a stark reminder of the task ahead. Around the world, nearly one million plastic bottles are sold every minute, and five trillion pieces of plastic are floating in our oceans. We buy over 80 billion new clothing items a year, and consume 3.9 billion tonnes…