When you work with JFS, you work with a company with a proud tradition of innovation spanning over 135 years that has been known for consistently pushing the bar to provide innovative end-to-end packaging solutions for New Zealand’s Fresh Produce Industry.
In the past to make this happen we have moved around the globe to be at the front edge of technology and packaging developments, now we attend online webinars or have teams meeting with our international suppliers. We are big supporters of NZ conferences and events and this year was no different (although changing alert levels can be a challenge) the team attended the Safe & Sustainable Packaging Materials Forum on the 17th March. What a day that turned out to be with Team NZ doing the business in the America’s cup.
It was a great day with many speakers (experts in their fields) sharing and guiding us through the minefield of the various topics on sustainability. In particular, the topic of ‘Product Stewardship’ really stood out for me as it has not really been covered in other events I have attended.
Here’s a few of the key points that I took from this subject, but for more detailed information please click on the following link https://www.wasteminz.org.nz/pubs/a-plain-english-guide-to-product-stewardship/
What is Product Stewardship?
Putting more responsibility for a product’s life cycle and waste management on:
- Manufacturers
- Importers
- Retailers and
- Users
rather than on communities, councils, neighbourhoods, and nature. To date, New Zealand has had a voluntary approach to product stewardship.
- NZ is number 1 in the OECD in producing waste (not the number 1 ranking we should aspire to)
- We produce more waste per capita than any other country in the OECD
- More waste year on year is being produced that is going to landfill (this is not anomaly)
- Government is concerned and starting to use tools in the Waste Minimisation Act
- Banned single use plastic bags
- From July landfill levy increase
- Proposal phase-out problematic and hard to re-cycle plastics
- Regulated product stewardship
- Six priority products have been added late year – 20 September 2020
- tyres
- electrical and electronic products (e waste)
- refrigerants
- agrichemicals and their containers
- farm plastics
- plastic packaging - consumer goods
- Declaration of Priority Product means:
- a product stewardship scheme must be developed, and accreditation obtained (section 10 WMA)
- ability to prohibit the sale of a priority product except in accordance with the accredited scheme (section 22(1)(a) WMA).
- a product stewardship scheme must be developed, and accreditation obtained (section 10 WMA)
- ability to prohibit the sale of a priority product except in accordance with the accredited scheme (section 22(1)(a) WMA).
- This mandates participation and reduce free-rider issues
- Potential for up to $100,000 fine for non-compliance
- Successful product stewardship for New Zealand schemes that:
- apply the waste hierarchy
- fully participate in the circular economy
- have easily accessible collection network for product holders
- engage with product holders
- enable transition to more sustainable option
Waste Management Hierarchy
