[ feature ] soft plastic packaging for the first time at participating stores in Hastings, Napier and Waipukurau. Mayor of Hastings Sandra Hazlehurst and Mayor of Napier Kirsten Wise welcomed members of The Packaging Forumâs Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme to the region to launch the new collection service. The event was held at The Warehouse in Hastings where shoppers were invited to be the first to recycle their soft plastic bags and wrappers. The distinctive recycling bins are at The Warehouse stores in Hastings and Napier South, Countdown stores in Hastings, Napier (Munroe Street); Napier South (Carlyle) and Waipukurau as well as at PAKânSAVE Tamatea, and New World Havelock North and Waipukurau. More locations will join the programme over the coming weeks. The Packaging Forum CEO Rob Langford says they are delighted to bring soft plastic recycling to the Hawkeâs Bay. âOver 70% New Zealanders now have access to our recycling service, and we have 160 drop off points around the country. The scheme covers the entire process from collection through to processing and is 100% funded by industry. âOur members are committed to reducing the amount of plastic by designing out plastic where feasible and promoting the scheme on pack to increase recycling,â he says. The soft plastic collected in the region will be recycled at Future Postâs plant in Waiuku, South Auckland. Jerome Wenzlick, Founder of Future Post says that the partnership with the Soft Plastics Recycling Scheme benefits everyone. âEvery Future Post contains 1500 bags and wrappers. So, every time Hawkeâs Bay
The Packaging Forum CEO Rob Langford, Heinz Wattieâs non-executive chairman Mike Pretty, Mayor of Napier Kirsten Wise, Mayor of Hastings Sandra Hazlehurst, and Mayor of Napier Kirsten Wise, Future Post founder Jerome Wenzlick and The Warehouse Sustainability Manager Yi You at The Warehouse in Hastings.
shoppers fill one of the soft plastic collection bins, thatâs another post off our production line. âAs we have grown, the scheme has expanded, and itâs great to be able to recycle soft plastics from here and turn them into posts for the regionâs vineyards,â he says. The Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme has over 125 members representing around 78% of post-consumer soft plastic materials consumed annually. The scheme pays for the costs of collection through to processing. The images on this page were taken prior to the Delta outbreak in New Zealand.
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Q&A WITH CCEPâS NZ SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT MANAGER My role is to drive CCEP NZâs commitments to climate action and to create a circular economy for packaging, working with communities to make a genuinely sustainable impact on the environment.
In July, a ban on problem plastics was announced. What work is CCEP NZ doing in this space?
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners New Zealand (CCEP NZ) recently expanded the sustainability team, appointing Jenna Pepper in the new role of Sustainability Project Manager. We interviewed Jenna to learn more about CCEP NZâs approach to sustainability, problem plastics and the transition to a circular economy.
Sustainability is at the forefront of shopperâs minds. How important is sustainability to CCEP NZ and what is your role in this? We believe that business success and sustainability go hand in hand. Earlier this year we shared our own bold ambitions, designed to make a distinct contribution between now and 2040. 30
FMCG BUSINESS - SEPTEMBER 2021
We support the governmentâs vision to move away from hard-torecycle or single-use plastics and are a proud signatory of the Ministry for the Environment NZ Plastic Packaging Declaration, which requires a commitment to using 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging across operations by 2025 or earlier. Our team has a focus on investigating alternative materials and optimising the plastic types in our recycling stream to ensure we have easily recyclable plastics.
The Government has a work programme to accelerate NZâs transition towards a circular economy. What is CCEP NZâs stance on this? The essential concept at the heart of the circular economy is where every plastic product is not only recyclable, but actually gets recycled. We actively support the Government and weâre on our own journey with the transition to using RPET in our packaging. Weâre also working alongside the Government and other parties to develop a container return scheme to support this transition.