Governance solutions for soft plastics in Australia: lessons from the discontinuation of REDcycle

Abstract

Soft plastics pose significant environmental and waste management challenges in Australia and globally. As a pioneering programme that aimed to enhance soft plastic collection and recycling in Australia, the REDcycle initiative was discontinued due to the lack of adequate end markets. By integrating actor-network and sustainability transitions theories, this article analyses existing soft plastic governance arrangements and examines lessons from the discontinuation of REDcycle. Suggested solutions for enhancing soft plastic governance include policy and regulatory reforms, local market enhancement and stakeholder collaboration strategies. The article contributes significantly to the ongoing scholarly and policy discourse on the circular plastics economy.