AASB S1 (voluntary) and AASB S2 (mandatory) – Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards

Australia's mandatory national reporting framework for greenhouse gas emissions and energy production/consumption by large emitters. Underpins Australia's National Greenhouse Accounts and UNFCCC reporting.

Enforcement

Mandatory

Effective date

In effect since 2008. Annual reports due 31 October each year.

Covered entities

Australian corporations meeting facility or corporate-group emissions/energy thresholds. ~900 entities currently report.

The Act sets up a national voluntary market for biodiversity certificates, with each certificate carrying standardised information on the area, project type, threatened species and duration of the work. Participants must follow biodiversity integrity standards and notify the regulator of significant reversals.

Enforcement

Voluntary participation, mandatory rules for participants

Effective date

15 December 2023

Covered entities

Landholders, Indigenous land managers and proponents who choose to register biodiversity projects and issue Biodiversity Certificates; buyers in the voluntary market

INFO 271 sets out nine questions issuers should ask before making sustainability claims, covering labelling, terminology, investment screens and ongoing monitoring. ASIC enforces against breaches under the existing prohibitions on misleading or deceptive conduct in the Corporations Act and ASIC Act.

Enforcement

Guidance (interpreting binding misleading-conduct rules in the Corporations Act 2001 and ASIC Act 2001)

Effective date

June 2022

Covered entities

Responsible entities of managed funds, corporate directors of CCIVs, and trustees of registrable superannuation entities offering or promoting sustainability-related products; principles also relevant to other issuers

The guide sets out eight principles for trustworthy environmental claims, including accuracy, evidence, life-cycle thinking, fair comparisons, plain language and transparency about transition plans. Breaches are pursued under the Australian Consumer Law's prohibitions on misleading and deceptive conduct.

Enforcement

Guidance (interpreting the binding Australian Consumer Law)

Effective date

12 December 2023

Covered entities

All businesses making environmental or sustainability claims about goods and services to Australian consumers

Reporting entities must submit an annual modern slavery statement covering seven mandatory criteria (structure, operations, supply chains, risks, actions, effectiveness, and consultation), approved by the principal governing body and signed by a responsible member, within six months of financial year end. Statements are published on the Modern Slavery Statements Register administered by Home Affairs (now Attorney-General's Department).

Enforcement

Mandatory

Effective date

1 January 2019

Covered entities

Entities based or operating in Australia with consolidated annual revenue of at least AUD 100 million, plus the Commonwealth of Australia and Commonwealth corporate entities meeting the threshold. Other entities may report voluntarily.

Australia's federal product stewardship framework is built on the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme, with co-regulatory arrangements that pay for take-back and recycling of TVs, computers and peripherals. Container deposit schemes operate in every state and territory, and the federal government is moving toward mandatory packaging and battery stewardship.

Enforcement

Mandatory for NTCRS and container deposit schemes; voluntary or co-regulatory for other product streams

Effective date

Product Stewardship Act 2011 commenced 8 August 2011; Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020 commenced 1 January 2021; NTCRS operating since 2011; first state CDS (SA) since 1977, all states by December 2023

Covered entities

Liable parties (importers and manufacturers) of televisions, computers, printers and peripherals under NTCRS; beverage suppliers under state container deposit schemes; voluntary schemes cover tyres, batteries, paint, mobile phones and photovoltaics