Sita Bantha Magar

PhD Researcher | Business School | The University of Queensland
July 2026 – January 2026 | 6 months

Company Spotlight

Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is a not-for-profit organisation driving sustainable packaging in Australia. With over 2,000 members, APCO leads the transition to a circular economy by setting national packaging targets and providing tools and resources to improve design, recovery, and reuse.

Placement Overview

Sita’s placement with the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) focused on producing an industry report to establish a baseline of bioplastics in Australia’s packaging ecosystem. Her work included reviewing literature, mapping markets, identifying stakeholders, and benchmarking regulatory frameworks. She complemented this research by attending APCO’s Materials Stewardship Committee meeting in Melbourne and visiting Plantic Technologies, gaining valuable industry insights and strengthening her professional network. The placement also helped her build connections relevant to her PhD thesis, “Understanding the Motivation of Sustainable Entrepreneurs: A Study of the Nascent Bioplastics Sector in Australia.”

Skills Developed
  • Industry-focused report writing
  • Project management and self-direction
  • Professional communication and stakeholder engagement
  • Understanding of regulatory frameworks for bioplastics
  • Networking and relationship-building through industry meetings and site visits
Outcomes
  • Delivered an industry report: Landscape Mapping: Bioplastics in the Australian Packaging Ecosystem
  • Attended APCO’s Materials Stewardship Committees (MSC) meeting in Melbourne, where Sita connected with stakeholders across the packaging value chain – from manufacturers and recyclers to educators and government representatives
  • Contributed to APCO’s knowledge base supporting Australia’s transition to a circular economy
Sita says:

“It was an excellent platform to gain insights into the Australian packaging industry and broaden my professional network.”

Rebecca Kersey from APCO says:

“Sita’s placement provided a thoughtful overview of the bioplastics landscape in Australia. Her work brought clarity to a complex and evolving space and sparked valuable internal discussion around regulatory settings and system readiness. It was a pleasure to support her development.”

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