Thomastown furniture retailer Gainesville has been issued a $9880 fine after failing to comply with environmental consumer packaging regulations.
Retailers across Victoria must work in line with the guidelines that require them to report the materials which are used to pack their products.
Environment Protection Authority compliance programs manager Zac Dornom said Gainesville failed to provide its details in time for the 2023-24 financial year or the information gathering notices issued due to its overdue response.
Due to a failure to respond on time to the notice and the fine.
“Other well-known retailers of consumer goods meet the same reporting requirements and are doing their bit to cut environmental impacts of consumer packaging and support Australia’s transition to a circular economy,” he said.
The EPA release said retail chains like Gainsville must make sure the packaging has more components that are recyclable or compostable and other materials are reusable. Additionally new packaging materials must be made from 50 per cent recycled materials.
This is the information that must be shared to the EPA, including what is being used and how paper, cardboard, plastic or polystyrene is reused or recycled.
The EPA can then create collect statistical data about the status of sustainability in Victoria or enforce relevant changes or retribution to a company’s operations. This works towards a national campaign which the Victorian government has ratified to ensure the environmental impact of packaging is prioritised.
