Information to help you live more sustainably in Aotearoa

We want you to be informed about the difference you can make in your purchasing decisions. Packaging materials are constantly evolving, and waste management streams are under development too, so it’s worth periodically reconsidering what you’re buying and how you’re disposing of it.

Knowledge is power. Together, let’s work towards a greener future!

Working towards a low-emissions circular economy

The New Zealand government’s waste programme is aimed at transitioning from a linear economy (where technical and biological materials are mixed up and wasted) to circular economies that give longevity to resources and lower emissions.

A circular economy means that we keep materials in use for as long as possible, extract more value from them, and then recover resources at the end of the product’s life instead of disposing of them.

Find out more here: https://environment.govt.nz/what-government-is-doing/areas-of-work/waste/work-programme-on-waste/

What you buy counts

The past few years have seen a shift away from plastic, but with the multitude of plastic options, there’s also confusion about which products are genuinely eco-friendly. Think about what it’s made from and how you’re going to use it. Buy products and packaging that will go another round if possible.

As does how you dispose of it

Before sending anything to the landfill, consider whether it can be reused or recycled. This mindset will set you on the path of living more lightly and can be applied to everything, from home and business consumables to food and fashion!

What you buy counts

As does how you dispose of it

Common municipal waste streams becoming available to kiwi households

Kerbside collections vary between regions, but from February 2024, councils will be required to accept a minimum standard to divert waste from landfills. By 2027, recycling collections will be available to households in all urban areas nationwide. And by 2030, food scrap collections will be available to all urban households.

Find out more about the improvements to household recycling and food. scraps collection here:

https://environment.govt.nz/what-government-is-doing/areas-of-work/waste/improving-household-recycling-and-food-scrap-collections/

Picking the best bin liner for the job

While we’ve worked hard to make sure there’s a liner for every bin, budget, and purpose, these are the most common consumer use cases.

Not all recycling is created equal

Making new products from recycled plastic material is less intensive on the environment than creating virgin plastic. Recycled plastic production is improving quickly, and it’s now possible to produce recycled products with comparable strength and performance as their virgin plastic counterparts. Plus, they’re able to be recycled over and over again, but it’s worth considering where the recycled material comes from.

PRE-CONSUMER PLASTIC RECYCLING

Some 'recycled' products simply have a little pre-consumer plastic added. Using virgin plastic offcuts (or factory by-product) in this manner is a great waste-efficiency measure but arguably not ‘true’ recycling as it doesn’t contribute to a circular economy.

POST-CONSUMER PLASTIC RECYCLING

Post-consumer material is reclaimed trash. It’s a finished product or packaging that has completed its lifecycle as a consumer item. Producing post-consumer PET has a significantly lower carbon footprint than manufacturing virgin PET.

OCEAN-BOUND PLASTIC RECYCLING

OBP uses post-consumer trash that has been collected from waterways and coastal communities (within 50km of the shoreline). It’s important to collect OBP before it washes out to sea because we now know that 80% of plastic in the ocean comes from land.

Which bag is best for you?

We make bags, many of them plastic, but not all plastic is created equal. Your selection should take into consideration what it’s made from, how you’re using it, and how you intend to get rid of it at the end of its useful life. Every product has its pros and cons.

Ecopack products are designed to be kinder on the environment than their conventional counterparts. We believe that alternatives made from compostable (“bio-plastic”), post-consumer recycled, or paper materials are superior - but even then they’re far from perfect.