12 international and several local businesses gathered with New Zealands‘s Environment Ministers today to make a joint declaration committing to use 100 % reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging in their New Zealand operations by 2025 or earlier.
The businesses include multinationals Amcor, Danone, L’Oréal, Mars, PepsiCo, The Coca-Cola Company, Unilever and Nestlé.
This reaffirms the commitment they have made, as participants in the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy initiative, to meet this target in their global operations.
The New Zealand-based businesses that signed the Declaration include Foodstuffs, Countdown, New Zealand Post and Frucor Suntory.
Statement from Greenpeace
“The announcement is an industry-led false solution for tackling the scourge of plastic pollution in our oceans …. The crucial word missing in that pledge is ‘reduction. We need to be wary of pledges like this that sound good, but in reality allow the rise of plastic packaging production in our lives and our oceans, all while companies pose as green leaders,” says Emily Hunter, Greenpeace NZ Oceans Campaigner.
Greenpeace warns that commitments on making plastic packaging recyclable and compostable will do little to turn the tide on plastic pollution, and that companies and government need to focus on reductions and eliminations of single-use plastics production if they are serious about tackling this issue.
Greenpeace says Coca-Cola, Unilever and Nestle are some of the top contributors to single-use plastic pollution worldwide and here in New Zealand.
RELATED LINKS