Varden is proud to be at the forefront of the new ARC Training Centre for Sustainable Materials and Responsible Technologies for Packaging (SMaRT-Pack). SMaRT-Pack is a national collaboration aimed at developing a revolutionary new generation of recycling regulations and standards for Australia, to set the global benchmark for truly sustainable, science-backed packaging systems.
Varden is playing a central role in driving both the technical direction and practical outcomes of the program, through our ongoing partnership with BioPRIA (Bioresource Processing Research Institute of Australia) and with Dr. Rico Tabor, our Chief Research Officer, acting as an academic expert for SMaRT-Pack.
This initiative brings together Australia’s leading universities (Monash, Deakin, and QUT) and a group of handpicked industry partners, all working together toward one goal: building a packaging system that’s fit for the future.
SMaRT-Pack will make sustainable packaging the norm
The world is demanding better packaging – and fast. That means better materials, clearer standards, smarter recycling systems, and regulation that actually reflects how packaging behaves in the real world. SMaRT-Pack is focused on delivering exactly that.
Here’s where we’re focused:
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Creating national standards for packaging recyclability and environmental impact;
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Developing accurate testing methods to track how packaging breaks down in different environments, from compost bins to oceans;
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Advancing fibre-based solutions, including non-tree fibres and plant-based coatings;
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Understanding microplastics, toxicity, and long-term environmental risks;
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Supporting better policy through clear, science-backed insights;
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Building simple tools to help consumers understand how sustainable packaging really is.
SMaRT-Pack is outcome driven
SMaRT-Pack is built around outcomes that matter in the real world:
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Packaging standards that industry can adopt and trust;
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A consumer-facing sustainability labelling system, similar to a ‘traffic light’ for packaging;
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Open-access data and methods so others can build on what we create;
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Training the next generation of sustainable packaging experts;
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Cross-sector collaboration with input from industry, government, academia, and NGOs to ensure all voices are heard.
Varden is at the centre of packaging sustainability
At Varden, we’re not just creating sustainable packaging, but contributing to better rules for what sustainability in packaging actually means. Through SMaRT-Pack, we’re working at the intersection of research, policy, and industry to help Australia, and the world, move toward a circular packaging economy.
We believe real impact comes from clear standards, practical tools, and science that works at scale.
Stay tuned as we share the progress and breakthroughs shaping the next decade of sustainable packaging. Contact us if you want to hear how our ground-breaking technology could be used to replace your plastic packaging.
