What are we doing?
We aim to create a local circular economy where plastic packaging in New Zealand is more sustainably collected and recycled by investing in better infrastructure and advanced recycling technologies.
We will do this by designing a plastic packaging stewardship scheme through which producers pay for the plastic they use in New Zealand including the cost of recycling.
Plastic packaging is light in weight and highly versatile. When used well, it can provide a lower carbon footprint.
However, we need to reduce the amount of plastic packaging being used and design better packaging so that what is used is recyclable and recycled to the fullest extent.
In September 2022, The Minister for the Environment, Hon David Parker, announced that industry groups The Packaging Forum and The NZ Food & Grocery Council would receive funding from the Waste Minimisation Fund to jointly lead a project to co-design a Plastic Packaging Product Stewardship Scheme for New Zealand.
Both industry groups would work with organisations across the plastic packaging supply chain to develop a product stewardship model that best fits the New Zealand priority product criteria and will deliver a best practice scheme design.
Plastic packaging (excl. beverage containers) was declared a priority product under section 9 of the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 in July 2020. This means a product stewardship scheme for plastic packaging must be developed and all producers of plastic packaging must be part of the scheme. At this stage, all plastic packaging (except plastic beverage containers) used for consumer goods sold via retail or wholesale will be included, as will liquid paperboard and compostable plastic.
The two year project will see the team recommend a not-for-profit product stewardship organisation (PSO) structure, responsible for the delivery of the plastic packaging priority product scheme, and a scheme design that will be able to meet the requirements of the Waste Minimisation Act, including sections 12, 14, and 15.
While this co-design project is being led by industry given its vast experience in facilitating product stewardship schemes, and responsibility for the for the choices made around plastic packaging, consumer and community groups, government, producers, and processors will be involved in the decision-making process throughout the project.
