Understanding the Australasian Recycling Label on Food Boxes

What the Australasian Recycling Label means, how it works on food packaging and why it helps customers dispose of boxes correctly.

What is the Australasian Recycling Label?

The Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) is an on-pack labelling system that tells consumers how to dispose of each part of a package. It was developed by the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), Planet Ark and PREP Design, and is used across Australia and New Zealand.

Instead of a vague recycling symbol, the ARL gives a clear instruction for each component, such as the box, the window and the liner.

The three main instructions

• Recyclable: place in the kerbside recycling bin.
• Conditionally recyclable: recyclable only if a condition is met, such as emptying food or removing a component.
• Not recyclable: place in general waste.

Each instruction is paired with the name of the component it applies to.

How it applies to food boxes

A plain paperboard box that is empty of food is usually recyclable in kerbside collection. A box with heavy grease, a plastic window or a laminate may be conditionally recyclable or not recyclable, depending on the material and how it is assessed.

That is why design choices like a film-free window on bakery window boxes can make a real difference.

How products are assessed

ARL labels are based on an assessment of the packaging's materials, size and design against Australian recycling infrastructure, using a tool called PREP. Businesses typically need to be APCO members to use the label.

Check APCO's website for current membership and assessment requirements, as they are updated from time to time.

Why it matters for your brand

Customers increasingly want to do the right thing with packaging but are often unsure how. A clear label removes the guesswork and shows that you have thought about the end of the box's life.

It also helps reduce contamination in recycling bins, which improves the quality of recovered material.

Designing boxes that recycle well

• Use a single material wherever possible.
• Choose film-free windows or no window.
• Prefer water-based coatings to plastic laminates.
• Keep foils and heavy metallic finishes to a minimum.
• Make removable parts easy to separate.

Food residue and recycling

Food waste is one of the biggest contaminants in paper recycling. A pizza box with a thin layer of oil is treated very differently from one full of leftover crusts.

A short instruction like 'empty food before recycling' helps. Our printed pizza boxes and kraft pizza boxes can carry this message on the lid.

Compostable packaging and the ARL

Compostable packaging is a separate topic. Certified compostable items are tested against Australian Standards AS 4736 (industrial composting) or AS 5810 (home composting), and there is a separate verification program for compostable claims.

Compostable does not always mean it can go in your kerbside organics bin, as councils differ. See our compostable food boxes for more.

Where to put the label

The ARL is usually printed on a side or base panel, close to other product information. It should be large enough to read easily but doesn't need to dominate the design.

We can place it on your dieline as part of artwork preparation.

Next steps

These products show the ideas in this guide in practice:

• Bakery Window Boxes: A clear window turns the box into a display case at the counter or market stall. Let warm bakes cool for a few minutes before closing the lid, so steam doesn't soften icing or pastry.
• Printed Pizza Boxes: E-flute corrugated walls resist crushing when boxes are stacked on a delivery run. Vent holes on the lid or sides let steam escape so the base stays crisp.
• Kraft Pizza Boxes: An unbleached kraft liner gives a natural look and prints well in one or two colours. Vent holes on the lid or sides let steam escape so the base stays crisp.
• Compostable Food Boxes: Boxes can be specified to meet Australian compostability standards where your waste stream accepts them. Match the box strength to the courier journey and add void fill or inserts so contents don't shift.
• Kraft Food Boxes: Unbleached kraft board looks natural, prints simply and is widely recyclable when clean. Match the box strength to the courier journey and add void fill or inserts so contents don't shift.

If recyclability is a priority, start with the material and structure, then add the label. Get in touch and we'll suggest box options that keep things simple for your customers.