Packaging industry body welcomes hard to recycle plastic phase-out, with caution
The Packaging Forum welcomes Government’s latest move to phase-out difficult to recycle and unnecessary plastic packaging, with caution.
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.
Research and Analysis
October 2020-March 2021
Transition
April 2021-March 2022
Delivery
April 2022-March 2023
What’s not included?
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.
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:
The Packaging Forum welcomes Government’s latest move to phase-out difficult to recycle and unnecessary plastic packaging, with caution.
The Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme has published its first Accreditation Report for the period from 1st April 2018 to 31st December 2019.
Plastics New Zealand’s CEO Rachel Barker has called for a crackdown on a practice called ‘greenwashing’ – where manufacturers claim their products are renewable or plastic free when they aren’t.
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.
Our team works with other stakeholders throughout the supply chain.