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Gov lays out national action plan for tackling plastic

By Natalie Martin on October 18th, 2021 in Food and beverage, Policy, regulation and legislation, Product Stewardship
Plastic spoons 3R discusses government's plastic action plan

By Natalie Martin, 3R Group Materials Innovation Manager

If you make, import or use plastic packaging in your business then there is a recent Government report you need to be across.

The National Plastics Action Plan, which was released mid-September, outlines Government’s drive to tackle problematic plastics by changing what plastic types are used, and how they are used.

It maps out planned actions from 2021 to 2024 aimed at moving NZ to an economy where less plastic is used and that which is used is beneficial and sustainable. This means ditching some plastics all together while upping recycling and reuse.

The plan builds on recommendations from the Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor’s Rethinking Plastics in Aotearoa New Zealand report. However, unlike that report the National Plastics Action Plan is concise and easy to digest as a set of signals to industry around the direction Government is moving on plastic, including a timeline for various initiatives.

Part of the plan is already underway with the phase-out of difficult-to-recycle plastics (like PVC and polystyrene food and beverage packaging) as well as some single-use plastic items (like plastic crockery, cutlery, straws and produce labels). These phase-outs are set to run from late 2022 to mid-2025.

Plastic packaging has also been declared a priority product under the Waste Minimisation Act, meaning regulated product stewardship schemes (which the whole supply chain must be a part of) are already being developed.

The country’s waste system collection has been identified as a big part of the puzzle, with the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) reviewing the Waste Minimisation Act and the Litter Act as they aren’t seen as fit for purpose anymore.

MfE is also developing a position on compostable packaging and looking at applying compostability standards, while there is also work among industry organisations to develop a use case.

So, what does this all mean for your business? Plastic use in New Zealand is changing, with the biggest impacts being the phasing-outs. Switching to compostable alternatives may turn out be a very short-lived solution if done before standards are introduced, so great care must be taken there.

Now is the time to asses where the plastic you use stands and begin future proofing, so you aren’t caught out.

Previous Climbing the sustainability ladder with 3R

Can we climb the sustainability ladder?

Next NZ produces one of the highest amounts of waste per capita

Are you ready for Gov’s proposed new waste strategy?

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ISO 14001:2015

Environmental management systems and safe work practices.

ISO 14001:2015 is an internationally recognised standard that certifies our commitment to environmental management systems and safe work practices.

Consistent with our environmental policy, the intended outcomes of our environmental management system include:

  • The enhancement of environmental performance;
  • The fulfilment of compliance obligations;
  • The achievement of environmental objectives.

Our ISO 14001:2015 certification includes 3R Operations, the Paint Product Stewardship Programmes, ChemCollect Service and the SeatSmart Child Car Seat Recycling Programme (owned and operated by 3R).

This certification is audited by TELARC.

ISO 45001:2018

Keeping our people safe, healthy and happy.

ISO 45001:2018 certification has been chosen to demonstrate the importance we place in caring for our people as we bring to life our values of Kaitiakitanga and Manaakitanga.

Keeping our team safe, healthy and happy is a primary focus for our business. We feel that the work our operations staff do makes this particularly important. Their responsibilities can include collecting and processing paint; collecting chemicals; driving trucks around the country; and getting hands-on with work wherever needed.

3R received ISO 45001:2018 certification in 2021. The ISO 45001:2018 certificate is valid for 3 years and includes annual surveillance audits which provide a valuable framework for further growth.

What is a circular economy?

New Zealand is “one of the highest generators of waste per person in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)”. The way we currently produce and manage our waste is not sustainable.

The current economy in New Zealand is linear: this equates to a process of take-make-use-dispose. The aim of the government is to move towards a circular economy.

A circular economy can refer to either biological or technical materials.

With biological materials, the cycle could be defined as make-consume-enrich. In this cycle waste returns to the environment and enriches the land.

A technical materials cycle may be more like make-use-return. In a technical materials cycle waste is repurposed and used to make something new.

Whether you need help with biological materials, technical materials, or both; 3R can partner with your business to assess your current waste, then help you reduce it.