The idea of a business driven alliance first came from Environment Ministers sitting as the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) who charged the Victorian Recycling & Resource Recovery Council (RRRC) with the responsibility and challenge of its formation.

Encouraged by the success of a similar concept that had been operating in the United States since 1992, the RRRC invited companies to establish a self-funding recycling alliance of Australian businesses.

Responding to the need for a business based organisation to drive the "buy recycled" concept through the Australian business community, and recognising the benefits and opportunities that a "by business for business" approach would deliver; the following companies agreed to help drive formation of the Buy Recycled Business Alliance:

ACI Glass Packaging, Amcor, Australia Post, Carlton & United Breweries, Carter Holt Harvey, Cleanaway, Coca-Cola Amatil, Coles Myer, Complete Office Refurbishments, Interface, McDonalds, Sulo, Tyrex Technologies, Visy Industries, Waste Audit Consultancy, Westfield, Wharington International and Woolworths.

The BRBA was formally launched by the NSW Minister for the Environment, the Hon. Bob Debus MLA, in August 1999. At the launch, Founding Member CEOs signed a Charter committing their companies to increasing the purchase and use of products and materials with recycled content by:

• Monitoring their ongoing use of recycled content products (RCPs) and materials
• Reporting on progress annually
• Encouraging the development of additional end markets for recycled products and materials, and
• Providing national leadership in education and awareness through ongoing activities of the Alliance

In November 1999, the BRBA became a signatory to the National Packaging Covenant, Australia's self regulatory framework for minimising packaging waste and improving the kerbside recycling system. "Buying recycled" is clearly in line with a key aspect of the Covenant - the development of secondary markets for collected recyclable materials.

Since 1999, substantial effort has gone into consolidating the BRBA as an organisation - in terms of management arrangements, goals and aims, and stakeholder relations. BRBA focus on leadership by example, education and information, research and development and partnerships has resulted in significant and quantifiable progress against its strategic objectives, as evidenced by the following achievements:

• Development of successful "buy recycled" implementation tools and resources
• BRBA programs have increased RCP take-up and delivered tangible business benefits to leading Australian companies. For further information, read the Case Studies.
• Member take-up of the "buy recycled" concept:
• 80% have approved a "Buy Recycled" Policy and established procedures for determining environmental attributes of suppliers and products
• 100% are reporting their progress annually
• a growing number of examples of members:
• "switching" from virgin products to RCPs
• working together to solve common sustainability issues
• driving "buy recycled" through the supply chain
• shifting business in support of other members


• BRBA has provided a platform for development of partnerships between members which has facilitated practical take-up of RCPs
• Relationship development with Government and environmental stakeholders
• Education and promotion of the National Packaging Covenant
• Promotion of member action and achievement has increased recognition by business of the sustainability benefits of "buying recycled"
• Increased availability and quality of some RCP segments, with over 2000 RCPs now available in Australia