Planet Ark, Australia’s leading cartridge recycling advocate, has entered voluntary administration after 30 years.
Planet Ark Environmental Foundation, one of Australia’s most recognised environmental charities, has entered voluntary administration following ongoing financial pressures.
The organisation, which has championed high-profile sustainability campaigns for over three decades, including National Recycling Week, National Tree Day, and the Cartridges 4 Planet Ark programme, confirmed the decision in a public statement. The charity cited the ongoing impact of COVID-19, a challenging economic environment, and persistent funding shortfalls as key factors behind the move.
The Board of Planet Ark said, “Voluntary administration allows for an independent assessment of the organisation’s affairs and to explore potential options for restructuring that will allow the organisation to continue its important work.”
Michael Jones and Bruce Gleeson from Jones Partners Insolvency & Restructuring have been appointed as the voluntary administrators.
Founded in 1992, Planet Ark became a household name through its strong public campaigns focused on recycling, sustainable living, and practical environmental action. Its Cartridges 4 Planet Ark (C4PA) scheme, launched in 2003, is one of the few national recycling programmes for printer cartridges. Operated in partnership with Close the Loop and supported by OEMs including HP, Canon, Brother, Epson and Kyocera, the scheme has collected over 50 million cartridges to date.
The C4PA programme is considered a benchmark for producer responsibility in Australia, with cartridges collected at retail locations such as Officeworks, The Good Guys, and Harvey Norman. However, the scheme only accepts OEM cartridges, leaving generic and non-OEM cartridges outside its scope – an issue of increasing concern in the market.
Planet Ark’s entry into administration has raised concerns about the future of its initiatives. Industry observers have noted that Cartridges 4 Planet Ark is deeply embedded in Australia’s environmental landscape, both from a consumer and corporate stewardship perspective. Any disruption could impact recycling rates, compliance efforts, and public trust in cartridge disposal programmes.
Despite the challenges, the organisation expressed gratitude for the support received over the years from the public, schools, communities, and corporate partners. It remains hopeful that through the administration process it can restructure and continue its work.
“We are committed to our mission and believe Planet Ark’s role in helping Australians reduce their environmental impact will continue, with renewed strength beyond this process,” the statement added.
Planet Ark’s status as a trusted environmental voice and its role in driving industry-backed recycling initiatives means the outcome of this process will be closely watched by OEMs, policymakers, and environmental groups across Australia and beyond.
