Earthwise has announced its new 75 percent recycled plastic bottles across its environmental cleaning range as part of its commitment to the New Zealand Plastic Packaging Declaration. Starting with the 1L laundry liquid bottles, 75 percent of each bottle will be made from plastic sourced from recycled milk, juice and water bottles. The new bottles will be manufactured in New Zealand and will be seen on supermarket shelves from October 2018.
Joining other Kiwi-based businesses, Earthwise has pledged to support the New Zealand Plastic Packaging Declaration, committing to have 100 percent of its packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025 or earlier.
The business is committed to reducing its use of virgin plastic in its packaging. “Making the pledge was easy for us because our bottles are already recyclable but given New Zealand’s current plastic packaging problem we know an effective solution must include more than just recycling. Kiwi companies need to take greater responsibility for the materials they are putting into the environment, and we are working hard to ensure we are doing this,” said Jamie Peters, owner and director of Earthwise.
“We’ve started with our 1L laundry liquid bottles and will include 75 percent recycled content into all bottles across our household cleaning range by mid-2019. But that’s just the first step. We’re also working on launching 100 percent recycled bottles across our personal care brands, Earthwise Nourish and Glow Lab.”
“You will notice a slight change in colour of our bottles as they become eco-friendlier,” he added.
Earthwise is also one of ten leading businesses backing a diagnostic study of New Zealand’s entire plastic packaging system. The study is being completed by the Sustainable Business Network’s Circular Economy Accelerator (CEA) and has widespread support from across the packaging sector. It will help identify what is needed for a circular economy approach to plastic.
“It’s important that we manage the full life cycle of plastic, not just at the end of the process so that all plastic can be reused instead of sent to landfill. We know that we can’t tackle the plastics issue alone and are proud to be part of the groundswell of change,” said Peters.
