CREATE CLEAN SERVICES, PRODUCTS, SOLUTIONS
He says that with one of the
highest per-capita urban
waste disposal rates in the
world it’s clear we aren’t leading
in terms of waste reduction – yet.
While it’s easy to point the finger at
consumers, it’s producers that have
even more responsibility, and the
ability, to pivot away from the takemake
waste, linear economy. This
will in turn give consumers the ability
to support a sustainable, efficient
and regenerative circular economy.
“The key means to achieving this
is through extended producer
responsibility (EPR). So, what is EPR
and how is it different from product
stewardship?
“It’s a practice whereby importers
and producers of products bear
a significant level of responsibility
for the impact their products have
on the environment, not just at the
end of their life, but throughout their
lifecycles,” says Mr Langford.
This involves upstream impacts like
the selection of materials for the
products, and impacts from the
production process. It also includes
downstream impacts from the
distribution, use and disposal of the
products and packaging.
Producers practicing EPR design
their products to be environmentally
friendly throughout their life cycles.
They accept legal, socioeconomic
or physical responsibility for
environmental impacts that cannot
be removed by design.
If this is sounding strikingly similar
to product stewardship, says Mr
Langford, it’s because the two are
technically the same thing – in that
producers take responsibility for the
products they make and sell at end
of life. However, EPR takes a broader
approach to the material being used.
“The cost of recovering and reusing,
recycling or properly disposing of a
product at the end of its life needs
to be equally distributed through the
supply chain. In other words, the
material must own the cost of its
recovery.”
EPR assesses the lifecycles of the
materials being used with the aim
of ensuring they are cradle to cradle
and challenging the use of materials
which are cradle to grave. This
approach drives product design
centred on easy recovery and reuse
or recycling as well as more efficient
resource use.
Every material is different and simply
overlaying a source separation
collection model such as a container
return scheme (CRS) will have
unintended impacts, unless the
full material balance is clearly
understood.
It’s about understanding that creating
less waste isn’t simply about using
less, or maximising recycling rates,
it’s about avoiding waste through
smarter design and improved
efficiency. It’s time to challenge the
concept of waste reduction and
pivot thinking to maximising resource
value.
“The packaging industry supports a
move to an environment which drives
the right material use and recovery
behaviours, as well as a framework
which provides clarity for investment.
We also recognise that Government
has a role to play in putting in place
effective, evidence-based policies
and regulatory drivers to support
development. Industry has the
innovation and expertise to take the
lead in shaping solutions that work.
But it takes collaboration,” says Mr
Langford.
The Glass Packaging Forum’s (GPF)
government-accredited product
stewardship scheme for glass bottles
and jars is an example of moving
towards effective EPR. Producers
not only take responsibility for the
glass containers they make, import
and sell, but invest in efficient design
such as bottle light-weighting, and
using glass which falls into the three
colours which can be recycled (clear,
brown and green).
“The next logical step towards true
EPR isn’t simply about effectively
recycling glass made from virgin
material, but rather producers
choosing to use glass containers
which already have a substantial
recycled component. This way
the issue of using virgin material is
addressed in favour of a cradle to
cradle, circular, flow of resources.”
Some producers also support and
encourage the refilling of containers
where possible, with the product and
system design being key factors in
enabling easy reuse.
Mr Langford says that the GPF is an
example of stewardship working. It’s
also an organisation that’s evolving
its own model, with a focus on how
to deliver a fully costed cradle to
cradle EPR solution for glass.
“The Packaging Forum, together
with our members, is working hard
to enable the industry to pivot
towards EPR solutions. At the core
of this is the Forum’s Pledge 2025
in which we are working towards
comprehensive stewardship
solutions delivered by industry, in
partnership with the whole supply
chain, including local and central
government and communities,
so all packaging will be reusable,
recyclable or compostable by 2025.
“We hope you will join us as we
strive together for a packaging
waste-free New Zealand.”
EXTEND YOUR THINKING
ABOUT PACKAGING WASTE
There’s little doubt New Zealand’s environmental
credentials as a clean, green country are under threat
according to The Packaging Forum independent
chairperson, Rob Langford.
24 JUNE 2020