The WCE Collaboration were in the right place, at the right time, to help apply research findings to policy recommendations

The Waste Implementation team within the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment (DAWE) recently designed a new Product Stewardship Voluntary Accreditation Program Logo with advice from the Waste and Circular Economy Collaboration.

IMPACT STORY

CREATING THE PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP VOLUNTARY ACCREDITATION PROGRAM LOGO

Product stewardship is a way to manage the impacts that different products and materials may have on the environment. Schemes can range from voluntary, co-regulatory and mandatory, but many voluntary programs have not been accredited by the Australian Government. DAWE's Waste Implementation Unit was responsible for developing a new Product Stewardship Voluntary Accreditation Program Logo that would signify to consumers that schemes have been accredited by the Australian Government.

Accreditation indicates that programs are effectively working to the highest environmental standards and are committed to achieving the best recycling outcomes. A meaningful logo helps to build trust between schemes and consumers and confirms that products are being appropriately recycled.

OUTCOMES OF THE COLLABORATION

During the development phase, X was at the “right meeting at the right time” and indicated that it would be beneficial to consult with research to design a logo that would resonate with consumers. X’s personal interest in behavioural insights and background in social marketing initiated a keen interest to collaborate with BehaviourWorks Australia (BWA). In September, the team worked with BWA to discuss how behavioural insights and scientific evidence could potentially inform an improved design process.

This partnership influenced two distinct outcomes:

1. The design of a new Product Stewardship Voluntary Accreditation Program Logo based on evidence and collaborative research;

2. A shift in the team’s perspective about the value of behavioural and academic research for informing project work.

WHY THIS OUTCOME IS IMPORTANT

Designing an evidence-based logo contributes to a sense of trust between The Government and Australians, and also helps to raise a profile for product stewardship within Australia. This is important because product stewardship schemes promote positive recycling behaviours and an awareness about waste management, which is a significant step in the right direction to achieving the goals of the National Waste Policy, and ultimately a circular economy.

“It most clearly shows the direct impact of the collab and the research on a policy proposal. Influencing policy is a holy grail in behavioural science, so having an example of where the research, people and timing all lined up is great.

The contribution of BWA and the knowledge gained through the WCE collab has a strong impact on the policy proposal. However the final outcome is still up in the air as the proposal has not yet been approved. So the policy outcome is yet to be determined.

Theres still work to do to making it less reliant on certain personalities and more part of the process."

NEXT STEPS

The Waste Implementation Unit submitted their logo design to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet at the beginning of November and are currently awaiting approval. The team hopes to receive additional funding in the future so they can collaborate with BWA researchers during the implementation phase of the logo and on other projects.

BWA researchers Celine Klemm and Jenni Downes were responsible for providing agile and focussed advice based on research and evidence. Their ability to make informed recommendations regarding the design of the logo at a rapid pace suitable for the Government environment was arguably the most important aspect of Celine and Jenni’s contribution. X commended them for being very forthcoming with their advice and expertise and mentioned that they were very sympathetic to the time and information requirements of the Waste Implementation team and broader Government.