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Sustainable food packaging: a Queensland shopper's guide

Guide · 2026-10-16 · 5 min read · by the Blueberry Bear Team

Buying organic food is one thing. Working out what to do with the packaging is another. Is that pouch recyclable? Can the "compostable" bag go in your home compost? Where do soft plastics go now? This guide explains the main packaging labels and schemes in Queensland, and how to spot claims that don't stack up.

The recycling label on packs

Many Australian packs carry the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL), run by the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation. It shows each part of the pack (box, tray, film, lid) and which bin it goes in:

The ARL is much more useful than the old "chasing arrows" triangle with a number, which only tells you what type of plastic something is made of, not whether your council recycles it.

Soft plastics: where they go now

The REDcycle soft plastics scheme collapsed in late 2022, and supermarket drop-off bins disappeared for a while. A new industry scheme, overseen by Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia (SPSA), has been rolling out collection points since. In June 2026, the ABC reported more than 700 supermarket collection points across New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, the ACT and Queensland, and that all the stockpiled REDcycle plastic had finally been processed.

Collection points aren't in every store. Check your supermarket's website or the signs at the front of the store before you save up a bag. Soft plastics should be clean and dry. They don't go in your kerbside recycling bin unless your council says so. A small number of councils are trialling kerbside collection.

Containers for Change: 10 cents back

Queensland's container refund scheme, Containers for Change, pays 10 cents for most eligible drink containers between 150 mL and 3 L. That includes most plastic and glass bottles, cans and cartons for drinks such as juice, soft drink, water and beer. Since 1 November 2023, glass wine and spirit bottles have been included too.

Some containers aren't eligible, such as plain milk and cordial containers. Check the Containers for Change website for the full list and your nearest refund point. You can also donate your refunds to a school or charity using its scheme ID.

Queensland's single-use plastic bans

Queensland has banned a growing list of single-use plastic items:

Lightweight plastic shopping bags have been banned since 2018. Some items aren't covered, such as the plastic and foam trays used for meat and pre-packed fruit and vegetables. For the full current list and exemptions (including for people with disability or healthcare needs), see the Queensland Government's banned items page.

Compostable and biodegradable

These words are often confused.

The Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA) verifies products against these standards. Verified products can carry the ABA seedling logo (commercially compostable, AS 4736) or the home compostable logo (AS 5810), along with a licence number you can check in the ABA's online list.

So:

Compostable packaging in the recycling bin contaminates it. If in doubt, check your council's bin guide.

Spotting greenwash

The ACCC has made misleading environmental claims a priority and published Making environmental claims: a guide for business in December 2023, setting out eight principles for trustworthy claims. As a shopper, look for claims that are:

Ways to cut packaging when buying organic food

  1. Buy loose produce and bring your own reusable produce bags. Organic fruit and veg is often sold loose at markets and grocers.
  2. Use bulk bins and bring your own jars. See our guide to bulk buying and food co-ops.
  3. Choose box schemes that collect and reuse their boxes. Our box schemes guide has more.
  4. Return deposit containers through Containers for Change.
  5. Compost food scraps at home, or use your council's food organics bin if you have one.
  6. Pack lunches in reusables. Our lunchbox shopping list includes ideas.

Packaging and organic certification

Organic certification covers how food is grown and handled, including rules that stop packaging from contaminating organic food. It doesn't certify the packaging as sustainable. A certified organic product can come in plastic, and a plastic-free product isn't necessarily organic. They're separate questions, so check each.

What we'll ask of sellers

When real Queensland sellers join Blueberry Bear Organics, we'll ask them to describe their packaging accurately (for example "home compostable bag, ABA licence number shown" or "recyclable cardboard box"), and we won't allow vague "eco" claims. The products on our site today are clearly marked SAMPLE.

Information checked 16 October 2026 against the Queensland Government (single-use plastics ban), Containers for Change, the Australasian Bioplastics Association and ABC News reporting on soft plastics (June 2026). General information only.

— the Blueberry Bear Team