Compostable Packaging use case results
Strong support for the key proposed use case principles give us a clear steer for the path to product stewardship.
The work of our compostable packaging technical advisory group aims to remove the challenges compostable packaging faces in New Zealand. We’re partnering with other stakeholders and organisations to ensure we come up with robust solutions that benefit our environment, communities and businesses.
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Work programme
Phase 1
Research and Analysis
October 2020-March 2021
- Define use-case for compostable packaging
- Stocktake of compostable packaging projects
- Stocktake size of compostable packaging industry and stakeholders
Phase 2
Transition
April 2021-March 2022
- Home composter trial with NZ Gardener, WasteMinz and home composters in New Zealand
- Work with solutions providers to develop capacity, infrastructure, collections
- Support key stakeholders as required to reach outcomes
Phase 3
Delivery
April 2022-March 2023
- Implementation of a working system for compostable packaging/products
- Product stewardship co-design process
What’s included in our work?
- Food serviceware such as coffee cups, fibre-board plates and bowls, wooden and PLA (polylactic acid) cutlery
- Flexible plastic packaging such as starch/PBS blends
- Rigid plastic packaging such as PLA
- Courier bags
- Other compostable packaging manufactured and sold by members
What’s not included?
- Oxo-degradable plastics
- Packaging with contents that are harmful to the end of life environment. e.g. most beauty and cleaning products
Why compostables?
Compostable packaging can play a significant role in keeping packaging out of landfill. This is particularly the case where the content has nutrient value and where packaging would be too contaminated for recycling.
But when compostables do get put into landfill instead of being sent to composting facilities, they cause problems due to the methane they release. That’s why brands, consumers, collectors and processors all have a role to play in ensuring this type of packaging ends up in the right place.
Some of the items suitable for being composted are FMCG packaging for products containing food, fruit stickers and food serviceware. The composting process allows this type of waste to be turned into a valuable addition to soil.
Compostable packaging does not have a role to play in products with contents that are harmful to the end of life environment and composting process.
Current barriers to compostable solutions
We’ve identified a number of barriers to compostability in New Zealand. Our team is working with other stakeholders through a systems approach to arrive at a national solution that benefits New Zealand and New Zealanders. Some of the barriers we believe need addressing are:
- No agreed compostability standard for NZ conditions
- No agreed labelling standard
- Limited collection network
- Variation of compostable products and facility requirements
- Confusion with conventional (non-compostable) materials
- Contamination
- Organic certification requirements for facilities
Compostable Packaging News
Kaitāia Market waste gets a second life
A grant from The Packaging Forum has helped the Far North Environment Centre greatly reduce the volume of compostable and recyclable material from the Kaitāia Market going to landfill.
Ecoware’s Compost Collect available in Christchurch
Sustainable food packaging company Ecoware has rolled out its Compost Collect programme to seven NZ cities, with the most recent being Christchurch.
Our team
Our technical advisory group is led by Kim Renshaw from Beyond the Bin and includes Packaging Forum members with expertise and interest in compostable packaging and end of life solutions.
- BioPak
- Ecobags NZ
- Foodstuffs
- Futurity Group
- Innocent Packaging
- Jenkins FPS
- Plus Pac Packaging Solutions
- The Better Packaging Company
- Zespri
Our team works with other stakeholders throughout the supply chain.
