BOTTLES PRICK KIWI CONSCIENCE New Zealanders feel incredibly guilty about using single-use plastic bottles and their effect on the environment, an independent nationwide survey by SodaStream has revealed. More than a third of Kiwis drink bottled water, and one-in-five buy bottled water at least weekly. But 72% think there should be regulations or laws surrounding single-use plastic bottle purchasing in order to reduce plastic pollution – such as higher cost, taxes or making them less available – and a surprising 87% say they’d be willing to give up buying them altogether to protect the oceans. “If 20% of Kiwis aged 15 and over are buying bottled water at least weekly as the survey shows, that adds up to more than 39 million plastic bottles per year being purchased, just for drinking water, in New Zealand alone,” SodaStream’s Mark Stephenson says. “Imagine how many it would be if you included soda and juice bottles in that tally too. This just goes to show what a difference we could make if we took steps to reduce this wastage. Interestingly, the survey showed that if bottled water became less socially acceptable - like what is happening with smoking - that would deter around three-quarters of people from buying it, especially within the younger generation. Perhaps this is the route that we need to be going down.” Stephenson says this survey has revealed just how many Kiwis would be willing to completely give up buying plastic bottles in order to protect oceans and end the age of throwaway plastic. "With around five trillion pieces of plastic currently floating in our oceans and harming marine life, this is a great result and it would be awesome to see our clean green nation move in this direction.” FT369 www.foodtechnology.co.nz 29 PA C K A G I N G PORT AND PAPER COMBINE Oji Fibre Solutions and Port of Tauranga have jointly opened a new container warehouse that will provide world-class facilities for paper and timber products including food-product paper bags. and paper mills in the central North Island to global markets. The facility – located at the southern end of Sulphur Point - is a purpose-built 22,000m warehouse, and is the culmination of more than three years’ work, involving proactive collaboration between Oji, Port of Tauranga, and C3 Limited. The facility, and associated changes resulting from the replacement of the old Shed 12 at the northern end of the terminal, allows for vital infrastructure development supporting the economic growth of the Bay of Plenty region and New Zealand. Port of Tauranga chief executive Mark Cairns says the strategic alliance with Oji and others has enabled the port to invest with confidence. “The demolition of Shed 12 has allowed the port to add a further 800 ground slots for containers and to build this new enhanced facility.” Freephone: 0800 107 620 | Email: info@confoil.co.nz Oji chief operating officer Terry Skiffington says the facility marks another sign of his company’s plan for growth in New Zealand and Australia. “Since Oji Holdings and INCJ purchased our business in 2014, we have seen a $30 million investment into modernising and expanding our food-products paper bag site in Penrose, a $60 million investment in a new greenfield corrugated packaging facility in Yatala near the Gold Coast which is on track for completion this year, and a $22 million upgrade at the Tasman Mill in Kawerau, scheduled to be completed next March,” Skiffington says. Port of Tauranga is an important business partner for Oji Fibre Solutions, as the port is the gateway for delivering more than a million tonnes of export cargo produced in the company’s two large pulp PULP PRODUCE TRAYS available in three sizes, ideal for fruit and vegetables, no PET liner on the tray so its fully compostable or recyclable, contact us today for samples or pricing. CON_PaperProduce2017_200x50mm.indd 1 31/08/17 5:42 PM
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