Packaging Council

2007 ENVIRONMENTAL PACKAGING AWARDS

Thank you to those companies, councils, individuals and tertiary students who entered this year's Awards programme.

The Packaging Council Executive, the Packaging Council Governing Board and the acting Minister for the Environment look forward to the Awards presentation evening on the 31st August at The Langham Hotel in Auckland. All entries will be on display at this event.

For further information, or if you would like an invitation to this event, please contact Deb Statham - Awards Manager d.statham@packaging.org.nz or 021 706 455

An expert panel of judges gathered in Auckland on the 28th June to evaluate all 59 entries entry on their merits based on environmental compatibility and impact with consideration for packaging performance.

The judges and technical advisors were very impressed with the high standard, effort and thought that had gone into the entries, the design of products and the consideration of both processes and disposal issues relating to waste materials.

This programme would not be possible without the support of the ten sponsoring companies and the Packaging Council is grateful for their ongoing participation as it is for the contributions made by the Judges and Technical Advisors.

Click here for further information on the Awards Presentation Evening.

ANNUAL REPORT & ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Packaging Council's Annual General Meeting was held on the 28th June 2007.

Mark Brosnan, General Manager Merchandise, Packaged Goods, Progressive Enterprises Ltd was elected as President.

David Carter, Group Environment & Technical Projects Director, Lion Nathan was elected as Vice President.

Lawrence Olsen, General Manager Commercial, Aperio Group Australasia became Immediate Past President.

Click here to download the Packaging Council's 2006/2007 Annual Report.

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Packaging Council welcomes common sense survey debunking the myth that most New Zealanders want a container deposit charge

The first major poll on people's attitudes to container deposit taxes, conducted by the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development, shows that New Zealanders are well able to balance emotional arguments with financial common sense says Paul Curtis, Executive Director of the Packaging Council

"This poll shows clearly that initial support for a container deposit charge disappears when people are asked to pay for it. That 84% people prefer using kerbside and the installation of more bins in public places rather than paying an extra charge is no surprise because they are already paying through their rates for a comprehensive system of recycling."

"The business community supports the Government's preference for voluntary product stewardship because it makes good commercial sense and we hope that other parties considering the Green Party's Waste Minimisation (Solids) Bill take notice because there has been so much emotive lobbying for container deposits that it is easy for politicians to be persuaded that this is what people really want."

Last year the Packaging Council commissioned independent research [www.packaging.org.nz] to assess the costs of container deposits. The net cost of introducing a mandatory beverage container deposit system in New Zealand could be up to $121 million per annum.

Mr Curtis said that even the proponents of container deposits concur that the costs would be in the millions of dollars but they believe that these costs would fall elsewhere. "Supporters say that costs would be borne by the brand owners and retailers. But everyone knows there is no such thing as a free lunch and if producers have to pay they will have to pass on the costs to shoppers. That's how the economy works.

This survey shows that New Zealanders recognise that running two competing systems in parallel does not make sense when 77% of our councils already provide a household kerbside collection, which is by far the cheapest option targeting a wider range of materials than just beverage containers."

The Packaging Council agrees with the 59% of survey respondents who believe the best solution is kerbside collection and more public-place recycling bins.

"We will meet and where possible exceed the recycling targets agreed to in this Accord and the way to do this is through continually improving kerbside collections and by offering better public-place recycling facilities to make it easier for people to recycle when they are out and about. The Government has already made this a priority and we support their determination to see recycling at all major events."

Mr Curtis said that the recent decision to bring a state-of-the-art Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) to the Auckland region with a similar facility to be developed in Christchurch as well the MRF which has been operating for almost a year in Timaru, shows the commitment which local government has to improving recycling through investment in modern technology.

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Export pack for kiwi fruit made from fruit pulp

Packaging Council member Maniaia Mist is a small New Zealand company launching an innovative and iconic packaging product. They produce fruit packing trays made from fibre extracted from waste or reject kiwifruit which avoids the need of costs to landfill. The process of the pulp making is achieved at a very low energy cost, using no added chemicals. The trays have been specially designed to protect fruit quality while in the packing process, in the cool store and in transit. The fruit is supported and the tray design allows air to circulate.

There is also a marketing advantage as the trays can be used for displaying the fruit. There are add on options for disposal of the product after use. The used product is biodegradable, compostable or recyclable. The design and process of manufacture meets international organic standards.

Maniaia Mist has had technical and research and development support from Fisher and Paykel Production Machinery Ltd which built the Turn-key Thermoforming Machine which renders the fruit fibre product inert. This product fits the green image and goes some way to lower the carbon footprint.

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Environmental Business Action Group (EBAG)

EBAG has been working for a couple of years on different systems of event waste management, with involvement in high profile events such as the Ellerslie Flower Show, Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park, Round the Bays and Womad. This has resulted in some solid data of what does and doesn't work and a crystallising of a framework to help event managers. The Packaging Council is working with Landcare Research on some of these ideas and how they can be pulled together into a larger framework which ultimately can result in an event attaining CarboNZero status.

Public Place Recycling is an area which has seen some high level political support, with an allocation of funds in this year's budget. EBAG is currently engaging with the Ministry for the Environment to work on a project which would see consistency in this area across both the public and private sectors.

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Survey on Plastic Shopping Bag Attitudes

New research shows that if you are female and live in the North Island you are more likely to be using an eco-bag when you shop.

Both grocery retailers, Foodstuffs and Progressive Enterprises, unveiled their joint campaign at a launch in Wellington on 26th June which was attended by the Minister for the Environment, Hon. David Benson-Pope, Members of Parliament and representatives from signatories to the Packaging Accord

Barry Hellberg of the New Zealand Retailers Association (NZRA) says that consumer awareness is vital to achieve the 20% bag reduction target agreed to in the Packaging Accord and so canvassing the opinions of 1001 New Zealanders has played a pivotal part in developing an appropriate campaign. "We now know much more about how to get shoppers on board, who to target and where. Over 8 in 10 New Zealanders received free plastic bags in the week of the survey and South Islanders received more than those in North Island. Only one third of us are currently using eco-bags and women are more likely to use them than men."

"From now on, whether shopping at Pak'n Save in Albany, Woolworths in Dargaville Countdown in Dunedin, Foodtown in Glenfield or New World in Timaru, shoppers will be challenged to think before they take a bag. This is a unique initiative by two competitors to deliver a consistent message to shoppers." "In the last two years grocery retailers have introduced eco-bags, reduced their use of plastic bags and the amount of plastic in them and saved in the process the equivalent of approximately 9 million 2 litre drinks bottles. But it's not enough. This campaign will raise everyone's awareness but more importantly will deliver results."

Click here for more information on the campaign and to download a summary of the AC Neilson research.

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FOODSTUFFS TRIAL PAPER BAGS

Foodstuffs (Auckland) Ltd in conjunction with Carter Holt Harvey Ltd and Unibag Packaging Ltd have been trialling the EcoKraft top liner 115gsm Paper Bag which contains a minimum of 60% recycled material in a number of New World stores in the Auckland region.

The bag, which offers a more 'environmentally friendly' solution than other paper bags, was developed as part of a broader project to contribute to reduction of plastic bag usage, in line with Packaging Accord objectives.

The bags were sold through a number of stores, and a small qualitative survey was carried out to gain insights into customer reaction and the bags' fitness for purpose. The key findings indicated that the bags' material and construction were robust and fit for purpose, and nearly half of the customers questioned had purchased bags more than once. Three quarters of the users would use the bag again and two thirds of them were prompted to do so for environmental reasons.

Cost, lack of handles and lack of awareness of availability were cited as the main reasons that the uptake of the bags was low.

The outcome of the trial provides an endorsement of the product's role in helping to reduce consumption of plastic bags, and could offer a broader choice in relation to packing options in supermarkets.

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PROGRESSIVE'S ECO-INITIATIVES CHECK-OUT

Progressive Enterprises' initiatives to reduce plastic bag usage are proving to be a big success with about 12,000 reusable eco bags being purchased each week by customers at Foodtown, Woolworths, Countdown, Fresh Choice and SuperValue.>

The latest project, 'No bags for 3 items or less', launched in April this year resulted in savings of approximately 500,000 bags per week. Combined with the existing 'Pack 7' initiative which has been in place since 2003, this has resulted in a massive saving of 4 million bags in the four weeks to 7 June - 1 bag saved for every New Zealander.

'No bags for 3 items or less' was launched following a successful trial in Hamilton, during which 85% of customers said a resounding "no" to a checkout bag when buying three items or less.

As a result, the initiative was introduced to all 156 Foodtown, Woolworths and Countdown supermarkets nationwide. General Manager of Merchandise, Mark Brosnan comments, "We are delighted with the response to our new initiative, 'No bags for 3 items or less', and can't thank our customers and staff enough for supporting this programme to keep New Zealand green.

New Zealanders love to rise to a challenge and in this case are certainly making a difference. We are continuing to do our utmost to get everyone behind us to reduce plastic bag usage even further. The initiative is playing an important role in our eco strategy to enhance our environmental sustainability and help preserve New Zealand for generations to come".

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Plastics Sector

Plastics Industry Supports Reuse And Recycling Of Supermarket Checkout Bags.

Plastics New Zealand encourages consumers to "Make a Difference" by thinking before they take a single trip checkout bag. As signatories to the 2004 Packaging Accord, Plastics New Zealand supports the responsible use of plastic shopping bags.

"In order to reach the target to reduce plastic bags by 20% supermarkets will need to pack more goods into each bag and offer reusable alternatives. It will require consumers to remember to take their reusable shopping bags back to the supermarket each time they shop. AC Neilson research shows that consumers find this hard to do" says Ket Bradshaw, Environmental Manager for Plastics NZ.>

Plastic bags are an efficient and responsible packaging option. Consumers need to weigh up the pros and cons of the various options available to them.

The first priority is to REDUCE the amount of material placed into the environment and plastic wins there.

The second priority is to REUSE the packaging. Our research indicates that approximately 80% of supermarket bags are reused. AC Neilson research shows that two thirds of those surveyed use their supermarket bags for their rubbish and recycling, another 20% use them for kids things, nappy bags and dog droppings and the remainder for storage and as carrier bags.

This high reuse was also demonstrated in Ireland where a levy on supermarket bags resulted in a 50% increase in the purchase of kitchen rubbish liners. This actually means more use of plastic and resources because the plastic liners are thicker than supermarket bags.

The third priority is to RECYCLE. The Plastics Industry has been working to increase the amount of all plastic packaging recycled in New Zealand and this currently stands at 21% of the total plastic packaging used. Plastics New Zealand is working with councils to widen the kerbside collections to include plastic shopping bags and other plastic packaging.

Plastics New Zealand currently has over 200 member companies and is based on a representative committee structure. Member companies include plastic product manufacturers, recyclers, and suppliers of raw materials, machinery and services to the industry. The organisation represents over 75% of the New Zealand plastics industry which has a turnover in excess of $2 billion per year and employs more than 8000 people.

For further information on plastic shopping bags and alternatives please refer to our website www.plastics.org.nz

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Glass Sector

CO-MINGLING

The Glass Forum has been successful in its campaign to raise awareness of the potential impact to glass recycling if Auckland City and Manukau City follow that of North Shore and Waitakere cities in introducing a co-mingled recyclables collection service.

The report commissioned by the Glass Forum was launched by its chairman, David Carter, on the 26th March. Its intent was to inform councils and rate payers that co-mingled collection and processing is likely to reduce the amount of high quality recycled glass available for reprocessing into glass.

"Co-mingled recycling collection and recovery of materials" was prepared by Auckland based economics practice COVEC in association with global consultancy ERM (Environmental Resources Management) and can be downloaded by clicking here

The report concludes that "Councils should proceed with considerable caution before introducing a co-mingled collection system…despite international shifts towards greater use of co-mingling, the experience to date does not demonstrate that it is the optimal choice."

David Carter told journalists: "When Waitakere and North Shore introduced mixed wheelie bin collections, it was without input from industry and the result is around 8000 tonnes of glass mixed with other materials being stockpiled down the road from New Zealand's only glass manufacturer O-I in Penrose. We are very concerned that the changes proposed by Auckland and Manukau will result in large quantities of glass which are too contaminated for O-I to use.

The message was reiterated by the Minister for the Environment in a media statement urging councils to reconsider their recycling plans.

GLASS FORUM CRUSHING GLASS STOCKPILES

The Glass Packaging Forum is seeking partners to operate a mobile glass crusher to be based initially in the South Island for use by local councils and recycling operators.

John Webber, General Manager of the Glass Forum, said that the move is the next logical step in its mission to find alternative uses for glass recovered from places distant from the main glass recycling market in Auckland.

"Over the past 12 months, we have funded a number of projects across New Zealand to develop alternative uses for recovered glass including its use in roading however many communities simply don't have access to a crushing equipment. By purchasing a glass crusher and funding its operation, we will provide local communities with a crusher which they can share."

"This is a win-win for everyone because the crushed glass can be used locally in roads, as glass mulch for wineries or in construction. The only thing moving around will be the crusher not the recovered glass which will be a major benefit for the environment. From talking to local councils and recycling operators, there is real demand for this service which we will test during a six month trial to start later this year."

The Glass Forum is talking to recycling experts who are able to manage and operate the glass crusher and liaising with councils to develop a schedule.

In addition to the South Island scheme, approval has also been given to support the purchase and operation of a glass crusher by the Waste Resource Trust of Waiheke. Mr Webber said that this grant forms part of a research project to assess the benefits of managing glass recycling within a local community. "Waiheke Trust approached us to fund their glass recycling research programme which is being run in conjunction with Auckland University. From our perspective it is an ideal way to gain insight into how a small island community can manage its own recycling crushed glass for use in its own roading and construction. This will provide significant information for communities not just in New Zealand but around the world."

Both projects are designed to provide a local solution which minimises transportation of recovered product.

Steel Sector

INTRODUCING HANABLE THE CANABLE: MAKING STEEL CAN RECYCLING FUN FOR KIDS

Kids can now learn all about how to recycle their steel cans while they're being entertained thanks to new activities available on the internet.

CANZBAC, the public face of Steel Can Recycling in New Zealand, has launched Kids Corner on its website with exciting activities for children. Children can visit www.canzbac.co.nz to meet the friendly Hanable the CAN-able character and learn about the importance of steel can recycling.

Kids Corner features activities for making crafts out of steel cans, a Hanable the CAN-able mask and a board game. All activities can be downloaded and printed off ready to use. More activities will be available on the website in coming months.

"Kids Corner aims to educate kids in a fun way about recycling steel cans and how they can help reduce the number of cans going to landfill," says CANZBAC Chairman Keith Parker.

"Children are often the champions of a cause and we believe they can encourage their families to put all household cans in the recycle bin and not the rubbish bin. We also hope schools will use the resources available on our website when looking for imaginative ways to teach children about steel can recycling," says Keith.

The launch of Kids Corner is just one of many initiatives CANZBAC is taking for youth to raise the awareness of steel can recycling.

Each year, New Zealanders use more than 400 million cans, with 223 million of those currently going to landfill. This would equate to the amount of steel that could make approximately 425,000 household fridges.

CANZBAC is committed to helping achieve a 43 percent recycling rate by next year.

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Paper Sector

NEW PRESIDENT FOR PAPERBOARD PACKAGING ASSOCIATION

Jack Hayward, Managing Director of PJ Papers, has been appointed as its new President by the Paperboard Packaging Association.

Hayward has over 15 years' experience of paper product manufacturing and acknowledges that the industry has changed over this period: "When the New Zealand Paperboard Products Association (NZPPA) started in the 1950s, the issues were very different. Today's consumer increasingly wants to be assured that the paper products and packaging they buy are sourced from sustainably managed forests or are made from recycled paper.

They also expect to be able to recycle the product and its packaging after use. Our industry has had to adapt to changing demand. In the last decade we have increased paperboard packaging recycling from around 50% to 72% which is one of the best paperboard recycling rates in the world. The NZPPA has played a pivotal role in driving awareness of the environmental impacts of our industry and we need to continue to drive the momentum. Key to success will be the active role which we play in education, particularly our involvement in Apprentice training and Awards programmes and the annual Pride in Print Awards."

"Paper products and packaging will continue to have a high environmental profile. They are, for example, 10th on the European Union's list of materials with the highest environmental impacts. It is critical that we actively promote the benefits which our products have for New Zealanders. A gram of packaging is seen as an environmental hazard but a kilogram of rotten food which was not adequately packaged is often ignored."

"With increasing efficiencies, the paper industry is stabilising its resource consumption but this is being offset by increased demand for our products. The NZPPA along with the New Zealand Paper Forum has an important advocacy role in working with stakeholders such as local and central government to promote a better understanding of the issues which our industry faces particularly because of the lower costs of off shore manufacturing. Over the past year we have also helped provide an operational insight into the impact which changes such as co-mingled collections could have."

The NZPPA comprises 27 members who manufacture paper products and packaging and as such represents a significant part of New Zealand's manufacturing industry.

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Recycling Operators Of New Zealand

HELPING WITH RECYCLABILITY CLAIMS

"When people who believe they are 'doing their bit for the planet' diligently set 'recyclables' out for kerbside collection and then have some packs refused or dumped by rates-funded contractors they become disillusioned and that cynicism leads to lower participation. Ultimately public dismay with mis-information will lead to regulation" says RONZ chair Bruce Gledhill.

Recently, one of the country's smallest brandowners, Corporate Water Brands, took RONZ advice to completely change their recyclability claims and on-label 'end-of-life' advice to better reflect the current NZ context for the new clear PLA or plant based plastic.

"This company proved themselves to be excellent role models by taking the right initiative, being collaborative in working through the issues and responsive to our recommendations. Sure it wasn't easy, but it wasn't that hard either".

There is a NZ Standard - 14021 Self declared environmental claims - that RONZ sees as suitably clear guidance for brandowners.

The negative effect on public perceptions about recycling caused by incorrect claims is one significant concern for RONZ. The other is the cost impacts on recyclers of collecting and dumping material that they cannot recycle. RONZ is now determined to play a major role in helping brandowners get it right.

"We expect brandowners will understand the need to address recyclability claims in the New Zealand context and that they will want to consult with the recycling industry about the use of recycling information" says Gledhill.

RONZ acknowledges that the generic phrase 'recyclable' and recycled in NZ' can mean outcomes that range from recovery and export, with minimal value adding, through to total re-manufacture and reintroduction to the supply chain - in New Zealand.

The key point is that there are several factors that can contribute to a discarded product being considered recyclable in the NZ context and RONZ is the authority to provide such assurances to the public. The organisation is working on a proposal to vest the right to use a description similar to 'registered NZ recyclable' on a product and to monitor performance under the 'right' to use that status.

Bruce Gledhill is hopeful. "This will see brandowners get real value from getting it right and will have the public believing them".

Local Government

Since the last edition of According to Packaging, Local Government New Zealand has been working on a number of waste issues. The organisation appeared before the Select Committee on the Waste (Minimisation) Bill in April 2007. The Committee was particularly interested in discussing options for economic instruments for waste minimisation. We are awaiting the outcomes of that process with interest.

We continue to be represented on the steering group for an e-waste product stewardship programme. There are some difficult issues to address but good progress is being made.

Local Government New Zealand's President, Basil Morrison, met with the Minister for the Environment recently, one of the areas of discussion was the role of central and local government in waste management and minimisation, and options for improving performance. Waste is an integral part of the sustainability agenda for New Zealand and our work with central government will seek to ensure appropriate priorities and work programmes are part of an overall sustainability strategy.

Discussions are continuing about co-mingled recycling collections with councils, central government, and industry. The recent Wasteminz workshop offered an important opportunity for different views and experiences to be shared to progress understanding about issues and options. The workshop was well represented by council officers.

Container deposit legislation and its place in new legislation continues to be debated. A recent report by Envision New Zealand Ltd, prepared with support from a number of councils, considered the costs and benefits and proposes a model for a CDL system for New Zealand.

Click here to view the report on our website.

RECYCLING UP, RUBBISH DOWN IN AUCKLAND'S NORTH SHORE CITY

A recent Controller and Auditor-General's performance audit report gave North Shore City a big tick for following good waste management practices. North Shore residents continue their traditionally positive response to the city's kerbside recycling initiatives. They have used their blue and yellow wheelie bins to recycle 22,800 tonnes of glass, steel and plastic bottles and along with their paper and cardboard collections over the past 10 months.

This totalled almost half of all waste collected in the city. North Shore City Council's waste minimisation manager, Bradley Nolan, thanks the community for continuing the trend of increasing the amount of waste being recycled. "We have collected 14 per cent more recyclables, reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill by some 870 tonnes when compared to the same period last year.

"Residents also threw out 15 per cent more (or 510 tonnes) in the inorganic collection last year with 350 tonnes of steel recycled. This rise can be attributed to growth in the city and the length of time since the last collection. This figure is a lot less than the growth experienced by other councils in Auckland," he says.

North Shore City Council introduced the country's first citywide kerbside recycling service in 1990 and the community has sustained its enthusiasm for recycling initiatives over the years.

AUDITOR GENERAL'S REPORT

The Office of the Auditor General's report into waste management planning by territorial authorities says that there is too much focus on how to deal with waste and too little effort spent on reducing it.

Despite major efforts there has been a steady increase in quantities of waste produced. This presents a challenge and opportunity to all of us.

The report noted that Councils favoured waste diversion and waste disposal activities rather than waste reduction. The report recommends that authorities should consider:

The report is available on www.oag.govt.nz/2007/wastemanagement

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Ministry for the Environment

NEW ZEALAND WASTE STRATEGY

The second review of progress against the 2002 New Zealand Waste Strategy targets was released on 8 June 2007. The review confirms that local government, central government and industry have made some important steps along the journey towards zero waste.

Click here for more information.

PUBLIC SPACE RECYCLING FACILITIES

The Government announced in Budget 2007 that it has dedicated $4.5 million over three years for the establishment of a network of public space recycling facilities. Working in partnership with local government, these facilities will be placed in larger cities and tourist destinations. During the first year, three sites will be piloted to iron out any issues before expanding the programme nationally in high population areas.

Through their support Packaging Accord members can make a valuable contribution to this initiative. It provides an opportunity for industry to work with local government. In establishing this initiative, the Ministry for the Environment will be working to ensure opportunities for collaboration are maximised.

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Businesses Say It's Personal

A new survey shows businesses are keeping up with the surge of interest in sustainability, and have increased their sustainable practices by 10% over the past three years.

The survey by Waikato Management School and the Sustainable Business Network shows that businesses have adopted more sustainable practices, not because they feel pressured to do so but increasingly because business managers personally see it as the 'right thing to do'.

"The message we're getting back from business about sustainability is that it's personal," says the report's co-author Dr Eva Collins. "Businesses are telling us that there's been a fundamental change in the workplace. Flexible work practices, laptops, PDAs and mobile phones mean that for many people nowadays work is no longer separate from the way we live our daily lives. If we're concerned about sustainability at home then we're much more likely to bring that concern to work." Dr Collins co-wrote the report, Sustainability Practices of New Zealand Businesses, in 2006 with Waikato Management School colleagues Professor Stewart Lawrence and Professor Juliet Roper.

Based on responses from 519 businesses, the report follows up an initial 2003 benchmarking survey, the first of its kind in New Zealand, which looked at the adoption of sustainable practices in business. The researchers also conducted interviews and focus groups with businesses for a more in-depth view. Social sustainability practices, such as giving to charity, family friendly policies and job training, remain the biggest element of sustainability take-up by businesses, although they haven't grown as fast as environmental practices, such as recycling and energy saving initiatives.

"Around three-quarters of firms reported social sustainability practices, and overall these practices have increased by 7-8% compared to 2003," says Collins. "In contrast, the growth in environmental sustainable practices was 10%."

Reputation and brand are still the key drivers, with 57% of companies reporting this had influenced them to become more sustainable compared to 46% in 2003. The researchers found that cost, management time and knowledge/skills remained the biggest barriers for business adopting sustainable practices.

"The first steps towards sustainability are often simple," says Rachel Brown, CEO of the Sustainable Business Network (SBN), which collaborated on the research. "Each business will have different needs and challenges, but there is help available. Networks such as the SBN are an excellent way of finding out what the leaders in the field are doing. Through talking with each other, our members can find both support and inspiration to take these first steps."

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