Australia’s environment and water minister Tanya Plibersek has praised news publishers for taking responsibility for the impacts of their products and production processes on the environment.

“Product stewardship goes above and beyond recycling and considers all stages of the product lifecycle for better environmental outcomes,” she said, “including design, manufacture, distribution and sale, use and recovery of materials and products.”

Plibersek (pictured) said the industry was at the forefront of the waste and recycling transition, with “almost 100 per cent of printed newspapers diverted from landfill” under the latest iteration of the industry-led product stewardship scheme dating over more than three decades and now “approved by the Albanese government”.

The voluntary National Environmental Sustainability Agreement is an industry scheme originally aimed at keeping legislation at bay. It is currently administered by ThinkNewsBrands, a consortium of media companies that includes Nine, News Corp Australia and Seven West Media.

Companies commit to using sustainable fibres and non-hazardous inks to support safe recycling, and to recycle unsold products. During the life of the scheme printed news recycling has increased from 28 per cent in 1989 to 61 per cent in 2023. According the latest release, only 0.2 per cent of all printed newspapers went to landfill last year. TNB says in a release that accreditation has strengthened the scheme, providing members with deeper compliance obligations and reporting criteria for environmental initiatives – from energy efficiencies to waste reduction strategies. “The government’s accreditation process is strict, with schemes assessed against criteria including whether they promote a circular economy, maximise the continued use of products and materials, and protect the environment and human health,” it says.

“Product stewardship puts circular economy principles into action for products and materials – keeping valuable resources circulating longer to protect our environment and communities.”

News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller thanked the government and ThinkNewsBrands for strengthening the long-standing agreement through accreditation.