Four new Plastic Innovation Fund initiatives announced
The Plastics Innovation Fund will fund over $5 million to help reduce plastics in our environment. Find out about the projects.
The four projects are:
- Marley NZ, partnering with Waste Management and Unitec, to minimise construction waste by breaking down old plumbing pipes made of PVC and HDPE and using the material to make new pipes.
- A research and development project by Pinehurst Associates, in collaboration with Scion, to develop bio-degradable nursery pots as an alternative to traditional plastics pots. The pots would degrade once planted, to support plant growth.
- A partnership with Policon to expand New Zealand’s onshore recycling capability, by turning waste polystyrene, such as you find in appliance packaging, into innovative building products.
- An initiative with Kaipaki Dairies that extends their reusable milk keg delivery service, removing up to a million single use plastic milk bottles per annum.
The Government is also providing $994,900 from the Waste Minimisation Fund to industry organisation the Packaging Forum to design a regulated plastic packaging product stewardship scheme over two years.