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NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2005
Dear reader This is the final issue of ACCORDing to PACKAGING for 2005. Our sincere thanks to Bron Bartley who has faithfully each month gathered the info, collated and forwarded each issue to the office for publication. ACCORDing will start up again in February 2006. While we are on the THANKS – to the team at the Ministry for the Environment, Bill Bayfield, Nigel Ironside, Josh Gluckman, Maria Murdoch, Heather Horton (plus those in the background whom we do not deal with on a day to day basis) – THANK YOU for walking beside us as partners in the Accord process. The relationship throughout 2005 has been “easy” in the sense that we have had goals to reach and issues to work through, all done with determination, professionalism and humour. Our contacts too within Local Government New Zealand, Susan Edwards and Irene Clarke have been a pleasure to work with especially in regards to the ongoing glass issue. RONZ - Mel, Peter and Sarah have understood the difficulties of the issues we are commonly involved in and we very much appreciate your positive approach and input towards resolutions. The highlights for the year have been the PAC.NZ Awards for Excellence, the publication of the Year One Accord Annual Report and celebration of the first year of the Accord’s operation, the cooperative approach by all parties taken to the glass collection issues, and the effective cross-sectoral activities taken by a number of Accord parties. May 2006 continue with more of the same! John, Deb, Naomi, Donna and Julie and Executive Committee of the Packaging Council of New Zealand wish you all a safe and happy festive season. Drive carefully and please ensure that you KEEP NEW ZEALAND BEAUTIFUL.
IN THIS ISSUE WE WILL COVERIf you are unable to read this newsletter or to use the links, please refer The latest from our sector groups Packaging Council of New Zealand Litter Steering Group Case Study – Ellerslie Flower Show Goes Green
SECTOR NEWSPackaging Council of New ZealandSustainable Packaging Two Day Workshop A two day workshop on Sustainable Packaging was hosted by the Packaging Council of New Zealand with support from Foodstuffs (NZ) Ltd on 24/25 November. It incorporated an overview of packaging sustainability including drivers for change, the Australian National Packaging Covenant & the New Zealand Packaging Accord, eco-design strategies, design for recycling and degradability, life cycle thinking and assessment, communications and marketing. There were 48 attendees representing industry, the presenters were Helen Lewis and Dr Karli Verghese from Centre for Design RMIT University Melbourne Australia. For more information visit: www.cfd.rmit.edu.au or email presenters directly at karli.verghese@rmit.edu.au and helen.lewis@rmit.edu.au Ministry for the EnvironmentSustainable Procurement MfE hosted the Smarter Buying: Better Future Sustainable Procurement Conference in early November. Over 160 delegates attended, highlighting the growing interest in sustainable procurement. There was an excellent mix of government and industry participants, and topics ranged from packaging to postal services and highway construction to off-shore purchase of retail products. Trade stands included eco-labelled products www.enviro-choice.org.nz, fuel efficient hybrid vehicles, recycled office products and EECA's new Bright Star programme http://www.energystar.govt.nz/. Accord members who were unable to attend the conference but are interested in viewing the presentations, please contact Jacinda Allwood. jacinda.allwood@mfe.govt.nz. As part of this conference, MfE worked with the Packaging Council to organise a separate workshop on sustainable packaging procurement to be run with keynote speaker Scot Case. This workshop included discussion of many of the issues specific to packaging procurement in New Zealand, including drivers for increased efficiencies, and the challenges of sustainable industry in a small country. Notes from this workshop are being written up, and will be circulated shortly. In the meantime, Accord members may be interested in visiting www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/sustainable-industry for links to further information about sustainable procurement. Waste Contracts The Ministry has let a contract to look at best practice in waste and recycling contracts. The work will include pulling together 'best practice' with reference to international experience and innovative examples in New Zealand with a view to developing a draft guideline, testing this with several local authorities and business and then finalising the guideline. some interesting links: - the November edition of Environz (the Packaging Accord is the lead article) http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/about/environz/ - the Decade of Progress report (Packaging Accord features prominently) http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/waste/waste-management-nz-oct05/index.html - Talk Environment road-show feedback now on-line http://www.mfe.govt.nz/withyou/talkenvironment/roadshow-2005/index.html A Star is Born - Energy Star Introduced in New Zealand New Zealand wastes more than $66 million dollars in electricity every year – that’s enough power for 77,000 homes. But a new energy efficiency standard being launched to consumers will help reduce that wastage... (read more) The address for EECA's new Energy Star website is www.energystar.govt.nz A Guide to Sustainable Office Fit-outs This guide, recently published by the Ministry for the Environment, is designed to help organisations consider how office fit-out or refurbishment can be done in ways that are as mindful of the environment as possible. This includes through the informed selection of office equipment and appliances. Checklists and pointers are provided for a range of items including furniture, paint, lighting, floor coverings and more. Already, a number of central government agencies are looking at using this guide in upcoming projects. For further information, email govt3@mfe.govt.nz. More additions to Simply Sustainable New links and information continue to be added to the Simply Sustainable web resource. Simply Sustainable is a straightforward guide to sustainable business practice, available through the website of the Ministry for the Environment. Those interested in sustainable product design may be particularly interested in the pages on product design, life-cycle, branding and labelling, and emerging markets for sustainable goods and services. The emerging markets page summarises recent research undertaken by Moxie Design Group and TNS Research showing the emergence of the LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) consumer group in New Zealand. Estimated at around 26% of New Zealand respondents, the key characteristics of this group are:
A Guide to More Sustainable Living This guide was developed by the Sustainable Business Network and was launched at the 2005 Sustainable Business Conference and GreenStreet Expo. The Guide showcases an array of sustainable products from green buildings and hybrid cars to organic food, fair trade goods and more. The Guide is divided into sections on Worklife, Homelife and Alfresco, and includes useful purchasing tips, points readers in the direction of sustainability tools and resources and advises on which third party labels and verifications to look for when deciding on which products and services to purchase. Copies of the Guide can be purchased from the Sustainable Business Network - email support@sustainable.org.nz. WasteMINZ Conference 2005 - Papers now online Papers are now available online from the Waste Management Institute of New Zealand's (WasteMINZ) 2005 Annual Conference. Papers of interest may include:
Local GovernmentThe December edition of Local Government NewZ, Local Government New Zealand’s quarterly newsletter to the local government sector, was distributed to all councils in early December. Local Government NewZ provides an update on key initiatives and projects within the local government sector, past editions can be viewed at www.lgnz.co.nz/news/lgnews/. If you have information you believe is of value or interest to councils in their work on packaging related issues, please contact meredith.barker@lgnz.co.nz for consideration for inclusion in the next edition. The WasteMinz conference took place 1-3 November 2005. This year’s conference was well attended by local government representatives and provided great opportunities for delegates to receive updates on the latest developments and engage in discussions about sustainable waste management practices. It was also an opportunity for delegates to hear about issues and initiatives taking place in other sectors. Brand OwnersMall bags green image for Christmas 23.11.05 An Auckland shopping mall is urging shoppers to exchange old plastic bags for a reusable replacement to cut waste this Christmas. GlassMore equitable approach to the funding of waste glass use alternatives. With the funding of the glass levy for the period May to October having been undertaken by the importers of glass only it is planned that future monies should come from all manufacturers, importers fillers and sellers of glass. This change will result in greatly reduced levies applied to a very much wider range of enterprises. The urgent objective is to fulfill the original aim of the Glass User Group and establish viable alternatives for the use of waste glass. It is recognised that locally identified uses offer the best options and therefore no simple single answer is likely to provide a solution. There have been a number of initiatives identified some of which are already being evaluated but accepted high volume uses across the country are still to be introduced. Progress towards a satisfactory outcome whilst slower than we would like is still proceeding with a number of initiatives to be closely evaluated in the New Year. PaperThe year has been a very good one for the paper sector in relation to environmental sustainability. The New Zealand Paperboard Packaging Association (NZPPA) has worked hard with its members and others in the industry to achieve a fantastic Mass Balance result. The 72% figure is better than all other international paper sectors, so we have something to be proud of. This achievement has not been without a lot of hard work in a setting of favourable business and economic conditions. NZPPA has focused most of it’s efforts into ensuring the Paper Targets under the Accord were achieved, and was assisted by a grant through the Ministry for the Environment’s Sustainable Management Fund. The major outcomes of the projects saw a Research Report on ‘Consumer attitudes to packaging, recycling and the environment’ (the first study of its kind in NZ) and a paper sector industry Code of Practice. The “culture” for environmental sustainability in the paper sector has seen significant change with individual companies implementing substantial programmes to ensure wastage is cut to a minimum. There are many examples including: one company that has a policy that states it will take back any of its product for recycling, another has reduced paper waste to landfill to nil, another has implemented the ENVIRO-MARK Environmental Management System and one company now only uses vegetable based inks for its printing. To cap off this excellent year for the paper sector and the Packaging Accord in general, NZPPA via Printing Industries NZ was able to pull together a meeting of all the major players in the wider ‘Paper Sector’. This group included newspaper and magazine publishers, suppliers and manufacturers of paper, direct mail, paperboard packaging and printing representatives. Participants at the meeting agreed in principle to the concept and also agreed discuss with their various organisations/associations the possibility of formalising a Paper Sector Forum. If formalised, this Forum would have as its major focus - environmental sustainability.
The Plastics Sector has just released the Sustainable End of Life Options for Plastics in NZ report. The purpose of this project was to help support and encourage the achievement of the New Zealand Packaging Accord plastics recycling target of 23% (by weight as a percentage of consumption) by 2008. The report includes: statistical analysis of plastic material types currently being collected in NZ; assessment of the current national infrastructure for recycling and alternative end-of-life options; key factors that may influence the recovery of plastic material; and recommendations on ways to improve national recovery. Key data for 2004 indicated that:
So far the report has been very useful for all working groups involved with the recovery of plastics. For more information please contact Ket Bradshaw ket@plastics.co.nz or Nikki Withington: nikki@plastics.org.nz. Degradable Plastics Seminar 8 December 2005 More than 60 people attended this successful seminar. They represented a range of organisations including plastic raw material suppliers, plastic manufacturers , recyclers, industrial composters, central and local government, consultants, non – government organisations, retailers, researchers. Degradable plastics are likely to shape the future of the plastics industry internationally. In anticipation of the increasing interest in degradable plastics, Plastics NZ held an excellent seminar on the topic. At the seminar we heard about the many issues surrounding degradable (including biodegradable) plastics. These key issues were identified as: education, standards, identification, collection and recycling infrastructure, and most importantly communication between and among the many stakeholders. (Presentations from the seminar are listed http://www.plastics.org.nz/page.asp?id=549 ) If you are interested in being part of a working group or a wider email group where you keep up to date with the progress on the issues above please contact Nikki Withington (email:nikki@plastics.org.nz, ph: 09 262 3773 ext 103). The first meeting of the group will be in early February. Our working groups continue to make good progress: EPS – Our meeting in Auckland on 18 October 2005 discussed ways to increase the recycling of EPS. Waste management companies have now put landfill disposal costs for EPS in the area of $1,000 to $1,200 per tonne and this is acting as one of the incentives to recover the material. At the same time a number of recycling companies will take commercial and domestic EPS waste. We intend to talk to representatives from the retailers, brand owners, importers (Incl. Food + Grocery Council) to discuss how further EPS can be recovered. A few companies are already offering to take back EPS. Other areas to target include; targeting transfer stations, commercial recyclers and landfills. The next meeting will be in February and there is interest in holding a similar meeting in Christchurch. If you are interested in being part of this group please contact Ket Bradshaw, Environmental Manager, Plastics NZ ket@plastics.org.nz 021 369 495
Both the Rigid Plastics and Flexible Plastics working groups are making progress. – We’re identifying the “low hanging fruit” for rigid packaging which appears to be ice cream containers and paint tubs and we are seeking a meeting with the Ice Cream Council in February 2006. The Flexible group have also identified potential flexible packaging that can be recovered and will invite representatives from the Food and Grocery Council, waste management companies, recyclers and councils to the next meeting on 14 February 2006. SteelThe Steel Can Association of New Zealand has launched a new identity for its recycling operation – CANZBAC™. CANZBAC™ will replace Steel Can Recycling as the new face of the not-for-profit organisation that comprises of BlueScope Steel and the local can makers NCI, Canpac and AMCOR. Keith Parker, chairman of Steel Can Association of New Zealand said the organisation is a member of the Packaging Council of New Zealand and is a signatory to the New Zealand Packaging Accord. “CANZBAC is committed to achieving a 43% steel can recycling rate by 2008 but to do this we need to work closely with the brand owners to ensure the recyclable steel logo is on all cans that sit on supermarket or other retailers’ shelves. Consumers should be confident their chosen product packaging is recyclable,” said Mr Parker. CANZBAC™ is also working with local government and contractors to develop recycling programmes that will help achieve the Packaging Accord’s target. “Steel cans are 100% recyclable and we will be seeking to increase public awareness of the recyclability of steel cans and educating householders on what and how to recycle, so that we can meet the target we have undertaken.” The new website www.canzbac.co.nz will provide information for industry, brand owners, councils, householders and educational institutions.
Litter Steering GroupNational Litter Group Meeting The Litter Steering Group had a constructive meeting in Wellington in early November. The group is interested in small projects likely to have early results. The group has commissioned research on successful litter campaigns. Auckland-based members of the group, many of whom are Packaging Accord members, will work over the next few weeks on the outline for a New Zealand campaign. The outline could serve as the basis for project planning, and it could be used when applying for support from funding agencies.
CASE STUDY - ELLERSLIE FLOWER SHOW GOES GREENPatrons at the Ellerslie Flower show contributed to diverting eight and a half tonnes of waste that would otherwise have ended up in the local landfill. The first attempt at introducing event recycling at the Ellerslie Flower show held at the Manurewa Botanical Gardens in Manukau City, has been hailed as a success by the show’s organisers. A total of three and half skips of glass beverage containers has been recycled from the event. Event sponsors Phoenix Organics also recycled all their cartons from the four day event. Food service contractor Compass Group was instrumental in working with the Ellerslie Flower Show organisers and the Environmental Beverage Action Group to provide recycling facilities and encourage Flower Show patrons to use them. Compass Group’s National Operations Manager, Murray Ross says his company was happy to put the recycling plans into operation and said that they were very encouraged by the response from the public. “We totally support the concept of the public being able to recycle at events where they are out and about enjoying themselves,” said Ross. The Environmental Beverage Action group paid tribute to the willingness of the Ellerslie Flower Show management and Compass Group to work closely with waste contractor Waste Management Services to ensure that the whole recycling operation went smoothly. EBAG member Sharon Jereb of DB Breweries said “to have diverted getting on for four tonnes of waste from landfill is a really encouraging start. We hope to keep building on this success at other large events throughout the Country.”
NEW ZEALAND NEWSWanganui looking at litter levy on fast-food 02/11/05 Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws says his city is being trashed by "excessive" fast-food packaging and the council is considering imposing a litter levy on fast-food chains. The outspoken mayor and radio host, a former National MP, said a stroll through Wanganui streets on a Sunday morning revealed it was McDonald's, KFC and Burger King whose litter was being strewn around city streets. Locals look forward to 'Uniquely Waiheke' resource recovery park 11/11/05 Auckland City Council's proposals for Waiheike Island's new resource recovery park have been met with enthusiasm by the island's residents.
INTERNATIONAL NEWSThe life cycle of your recyclables 17/11/05 Gloria Fajardo is one reason Madison residents no longer have to sort, bag and bundle. Nine to 10 hours a day, the 34-year-old woman stands before a conveyor belt whizzing by at 155 feet per minute in a factory just north of Chicago. Since Sept. 12, Madison residents have been able to dump all of their recyclable items into one bin. No more bagging plastics and separating them from newspapers. No more bundling cardboard with twine. Recycling on the rise, but too much still going to waste 7/11/05 Australians are recycling more of their rubbish than ever before but they cannot keep pace with the amount of waste they are producing, according to a new report. Most Australians supported recycling but confusion about what they were allowed to throw into bins, combined with apathy and laziness, meant Australia was still one of the most wasteful countries in the world. Boot's and Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd Join Trial to Close Plastic Packaging Recycling Loop 3/11/05 A trial aimed at boosting the use of recycled PET (rPET) in the UK packaging industry has taken an exciting step forward with products from Boots and Cola-Cola Enterprises Ltd (CCE) now hitting shelves throughout the UK.
The quantity of plastic bottles collected for recycling in the UK has doubled over the past two years according to research carried out by Recoup and funded by WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme). 18/11/05 A London-wide study of school children's views has shown they profess to be keen recyclers who put their parents to shame. Bottled water is unsustainable and adds to waste and pollution 17/11/05 Branding and bottling of water is an unsustainable use of natural resources and adds to the overall levels of waste and pollution in society, CIWEM has said. Plans to drive down packaging waste gather pace (UK) 24/11/2005 Efforts to reduce the huge amount of waste produced from packaging have received a boost this week with the announcement of new Government recycling targets. Cut Christmas waste with online cards 28/11/05 Every year Britons send one billion Christmas cards, the bulk of which will end up languishing in landfills. But this Christmas Government-sponsored waste cutters Envirowise are trying to encourage business to send electronic cards by email instead and donate the money saved to an environmental charity.
ACT hailed national recycling leader (AUS) 21/11/05 Canberrans have received a pat on the back for their waste recycling efforts. EVENTS COMING UPBack issues of ACCORDing to Packaging are available here We welcome and encourage those involved in bringing the Packaging Accord 2004 to life to contribute to this newsletter. Please send us your stories and comments so they can be shared with others. |
| REPRESENTING MANUFACTURERS, FILLERS, BRAND OWNERS, WHOLESALERS, RETAILERS & CONSUMERS OF PACKAGING |
| Unit K, 175 Harris Road, Botany Downs, Auckland: PO Box 58899, Greenmount PHONE 09 271 4044, FAX 09 271 4041, EMAIL pac.nz@packaging.org.nz, WEB www.packaging.org.nz |