Paper sector preparing for product stewardship

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NEWS RELEASE: Paper sector preparing for product stewardship

The NZ Paperboard Packaging Association (NZPPA) has announced that it plans to work with the NZ Paper Forum on a combined paper and paperboard packaging product stewardship scheme as a natural successor to the Packaging Accord which ended on the 30th June.

Jack Hayward, President of the NZPPA said that whilst the focus of the Packaging Accord was on packaging materials, the current emphasis for the paper sector needs to be much wider:-

“Together the two organisations represent companies and associations that make up a significant part of New Zealand’s paper industry including manufacturers and importers of paper, printers; manufacturers of stationery and paperboard packaging. When people put paper out for recycling they don’t distinguish between what type of paper it is and nor do the recycling operators. All paper products are a valuable recyclable."

“With the conclusion of the Packaging Accord, we believe the time is right to consider a paper product stewardship scheme built on the very successful Accord Paper Sector action plans but which also now meets the criteria set out in the Waste Minimisation Act.”

“Where possible we will continue to work with the wider packaging sector on projects and initiatives such as consumer and education programmes and encouraging greater public place recycling for packaging materials but it is now appropriate to consider a specific scheme for paper and paperboard products. We have worked hard as an industry to produce a very good recycling rate for paper including newsprint and packaging. This is amongst the highest rate of recycling in the world. Industry has clear targets for producing products from sustainably made paper and driving efficiencies throughout the production process."

Members of NZPPA and The NZ Paper Forum include paper mills, waste paper plants, paper merchants, converters, packaging manufacturers and printers as well as recyclers processing post consumer waste.

ENDS

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