It’s no secret that current efforts to slow down the consequences of climate change haven’t been as fruitful globally as hoped. Aotearoa’s current recycling initiatives, including recycling plastics, simply won’t cut it moving forward if we are to seriously reduce our emissions. On average, Kiwis throw away an estimated 159 grams of rubbish each per day and are among the biggest waste-creators in the world. To combat this, the government are rolling out their ‘plastic phase out’ scheme to remove hard-to-recycle and single-use plastics from circulation throughout the country.
A phase out of this scale is such a large operation that the process will not happen overnight. The government’s plan is for this to start at end of this year (2022) and by 2025 hard-to-recycle and single-use plastics won’t be in circulation. Last year we broke down the pathway to 2025, and what happens at each stage. You can get up to speed on that here.
So, what does the plastic ban mean for your business and what steps can you implement now so that you’re well prepared when the time comes? It will be beneficial for you and your team to act now, rather than wait until the last minute.
All of the hard-to-recycle and single-use plastics found here will no longer be able to be purchased. You’ll need to know exactly where in your business these hard-to-recycle and single-use plastics are used, and the impact they have on the running of your business and your team members. Make a record of this and put a plan in place as to how each of these items can be replaced with a sustainable version.
Alternatives to single-use and hard-to-recycle plastics include reusable items like metal cutlery and wash-and-reuse containers, or compostable or biodegradable products which cause far less harm to the environment.
Air Chathams are a fantastic example of a business getting themselves organised ahead of the plastics ban. They’ve already switched all their inflight single-use food packaging for a sustainable, compostable, plantbased option from us at Green Choice. Rather than wait until the plastic versions of these are banned, they’ve already made greener choices, fast forwarding their kinder impact on the planet and won’t be affected negatively by the ban when it comes into play.
Air Chathams have also updated their cleaning product supplier, to a local Kiwi owned business who provide them with environmental and biodegradable cleaning products. By switching to environmentally friendly solutions now, they are saving themselves a huge headache down the line.
Work in hospitality? This article touches on the ways different hotels are going plastic-free, and the policies they are implementing. Check it out for inspiration.
As the saying goes, fail to prepare, and prepare to fail. The earlier you remove reliance on hard-to-recycle and single-use plastics, the smoother this transition will be for your business and team. Please don’t find yourselves in a situation where you’re unaware of what impact the plastic ban will have on your business and find you’re suddenly scrambling for sustainable suppliers, without having the time to do your research. This will be both timely and costly to your business. Get across this now, while it’s not too late, and ensure a smooth, green transition.
If food packaging is a part of your business, talk to us today about our sustainable food packaging offering, and how easy it is to make a green choice. Give us a call 0800 864 725.
