In a series of recent articles, The Packaging Forum has delved into the challenges facing New Zealand and how we can reduce waste and improve packaging recycling rates.
Packaging has its place in our society—to protect and preserve products, ensure the food we buy is safe with a shelf life that minimises food waste, and ensure the goods we purchase arrive undamaged.
In Europe, the new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is set to harmonise packaging design and recyclability across the EU moving from directives which have been implemented differently across the region and which have done nothing to stop packaging growing at a faster rate than GDP and population.
Rob Langford, CEO of The Packaging Forum, said that, ultimately, the conversation around packaging’s life cycle is complex, and how we handle packaging at its end of life and reduce the amount of recyclable material going to landfills is key.
“It’s our combined responsibility to protect the planet; we should always ask ourselves - do we need this? And then, as a brand owner, consider whether using another material to achieve the best outcome,” said Langford.
Much of the packaging on the market currently could be recycled if collected, sorted, and placed back into a circular economy. However, to do this successfully and, most importantly, sustainably, we need the right networks, systems, behaviours, and commitment from all stakeholders—industry, policy decision-makers, and consumers.
“It’s confronting to realise that our packaging recycling rate has not improved in twenty years, which means what we have been doing just isn’t working, and we need to reset the system. We need to design packaging for reuse and recycling and change how we collect so we have, where possible, separate source collection systems for glass and paper. Then we need sortation systems which deliver high-quality feedstock to reprocessors.”
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is widely used around the world to shift the responsibility from the state to the private sector. EPR means that the industry or the Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) takes control of finances and operational management, but the Government needs to set a clear vision of what it wants to achieve and hold the PRO to account.
“We can learn from global EPR experience so that we don’t make mistakes which other countries have made over 30 years of EPR.”
The Packaging Forum is a member of the global EPR Alliance EXPRA, and its guidance is set out here.
Across the ditch, the Australian Government has published proposals for reforming packaging regulation. The consultation process seeks views on potential options for a reformed system for regulating packaging in Australia, including reform to a full EPR approach for all packaging materials.
“We acknowledge that we are limited in New Zealand by the current regulations set out in the Waste Minimisation Act 2008, but the law as it is written does not allow us to deliver best practice producer responsibility, and changes need to be made,” added Langford.
“However, maintaining long-term relationships and ongoing engagement with government and legislative decision-makers is also key to overcoming challenges and paramount to ensuring sustainable, workable regulations that are future-focused rather than a hindrance to progression.”
Langford said the Forum has worked for more than 20 years to develop best practice solutions for maximum material recovery and waste minimisation. These solutions have included promoting and investing in reuse and refillable solutions, facilitating recovery and recycling schemes for glass, soft plastic, food and beverage cartons, and, most recently, caps and lids.
The Forum works closely with its members and stakeholder partners to ensure the programmes are workable and sustainable and support New Zealand’s recycling and circular economy.
Through its vast global networks, the Forum can use the learnings and experience of international colleagues and experts to establish best-practice sustainable solutions to waste in New Zealand that will affect real change in New Zealand.
“What is interesting is that often, when talking with our international colleagues, they are consistent in saying that for New Zealand to succeed in reducing waste and improving recycling outcomes, mandatory stewardship was key and that any programme we undertake needs to take an all-of-packaging approach to achieve equity among materials and producers.
“New Zealand is behind other countries when it comes to effective and efficient management of waste material recovery, particularly plastics. We also need to invest in onshore processing facilities so we can turn as much of our waste material into as many consumable products as possible right here in New Zealand – it’s one thing to recover the materials, it’s another thing to process and recycle these materials into products that Kiwis want to purchase.”
“Basically, if people aren’t buying goods using recycled materials, then we’re not really recycling.”
To learn more about these schemes, visit https://home.recycling.kiwi.nz/ and how you can become a member, visit www.packagingforum.org.nz
