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WHY IS AN ACCORD NECESSARY?
- New Zealanders are demanding a clean, green environment.
- Packaging is a significant proportion of the waste stream – 12% of landfills.
- 50% of packaging consumed per person annually goes to landfill – 50% is recovered.
- Need to reduce consumption.
HAVE THERE BEEN OTHER PACKAGING ACCORDS?
- The first packaging Accord was signed in 1996 and ran for a period of 5 years – 2001.
- It principally related to manufacturers
- Achieved under this Accord:
- Written / adopted a Code of Practice for the Packaging of Consumer Goods.
- Implemented of a Complaints Procedure.
- Established / promoted an education programme – PAC-IT.
- Collected / collated data – reported annually quantities of packaging waste to landfill (mass balance).
- Collected / collated data – quantities of imported packaging (indirect mass balance).
- Supported efficient / effective waste management options e.g. recycling programmes.
- Acted as a co-ordinating body to implement a waste strategy.
WHAT'S HAPPENED SINCE 2001?
- Since the signing of the first Accord in 1996 the NEW ZEALAND WASTE STRATEGY has been launched by Government (2002)
- All sectors of the community are expected to embrace this strategy and recognise its influence and accept the philosophy of PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP (Extended Producer Responsibility).
WHAT IS PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP or EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY?
- It is the “producer” accepting responsibility in whole or in part, financially or otherwise for dealing with products or their packaging when the items are no longer required.
WHO IS THE PRODUCER?
- The producer is deemed to be that entity which has the greatest influence over the decision making process.
- The brand owner is the principal producer - the decision maker for materials selection and product design. These decisions are to be made at the beginning of the packaging lifecycle. The brand owner must determine if the packaging can be recycled/recovered.
WHO IS INVOLVED IN THIS ACCORD?
- Accord 2004 is broader than the first Accord and includes fundamental players – brand owners and retailers along with the manufacturers e.g. glass, aluminium, paper, plastic and steel. These SIX SECTORS are represented by the Packaging Council of New Zealand (Inc)
- Also involved are Central Government, Local Government and the recycling industry represented by the Recycling Operators of New Zealand (RONZ).
WHAT’S BEEN ACHIEVED SINCE THE SECOND ACCORD WAS SIGNED?
- Recovery targets for the SIX SECTORS have been set through to 2008 namely:
- Aluminium 65%
- Paper 70%
- Glass 55%
- Plastic 23%
- Steel 43% and
- Brand Owners / Retailers have committed to reduce the use of plastic shopping bags by 20%.
- Mass balance data has been collected / collated for 2003.
see http://www.packaging.org.nz/packaging_index.html
- A National Communications Plan has been written and is to be implemented within each sector. It is recognised that before the general public grasp the concept of the Accord, industry must be producing positive, credible results. In-house education of the Accord philosophy / objectives needs to be implemented from senior management through to shop floor personnel.
WHAT’S IN THE SECTOR ACTION PLANS?
- 9 Sector Action Plans have been written and cover:
- mass balance data
- trends of annual estimated per capita packaging waste to landfill
- packaging design and procurement
- development of sustainable markets for reused / recycled materials
- programmes to achieve national targets
- consumer information and involvement
- promotion of the Accord
- in-house waste reduction and resource recovery
- Sector Action Plans can be downloaded from here.
WHAT ARE THE SECTORS ACTUALLY DOING?
- Each sector is expected to work at a JOINT, COMPANY & INDIVIDUAL level (see Sector Action Plans).
- Progress is reported annually to the Packaging Council who collects and collates the information and presents it to the Minister, the President of Local Government New Zealand and to the New Zealand public annually – around September each year.
- Sector groups, sub-sector groups and cross sectoral groups have been formed and are meeting at regular intervals.
- EXAMPLE of a cross sectoral sub-group – EBAG (Environmental Beverage Action Group) was formed and represents brand owners, manufacturers, local government, the recycling industry, central government and the Packaging Council. Their aim is a reduction of plastic beverage packaging to landfill. Their contribution in reduction will go towards the 23% (or more) plastics target to 2008. This group is also focussing on a nationwide recycling programme for events / out and about.
HOW IS THE PACKAGING COUNCIL AND THE ACCORD FUNDED?
- The Packaging Council and its activities are totally funded by member subscriptions. The SIX ACCORD INDUSTRY SECTORS are funded from membership subscriptions.
- The Council looks to all in the packaged goods industry to buy into the Accord and support the work of the Council through membership.
- However as Central Government is the “other half” of the Accord partnership, it’s responsibility being itself, Local Government and the recycling industry (through RONZ), it has contributed its portion financially to the running of the Accord programme.
WHO OVERSEES HOW THE MONEY IS SPENT AND THAT THE PROCESS IS RUNNING CORRECTLY / TRANSPARENTLY?
- An independent Governing Board and Accord Secretariat have been established to oversee the implementation of Accord 2004.
- The Governing Board is made up of FIVE representatives from industry selected by the Executive Committee of the Packaging Council of New Zealand and THREE representatives one each from Central Government, Local Government and the recycling industry (through RONZ).
- The Packaging Council has been appointed the Accord Secretariat. The Secretariat reports directly the Governing Board and is a NEUTRAL body.
- While the Accord is a “voluntary programme” it has been structured to ensure input from all relevant sectors of the community in a way which ensures TRANSPARENCY and an operation meeting acceptable commercial standards with appropriate controls.
- This includes a Charter covering the Governing Board and arrangements covering finances and reporting.
WHY HAS THE PACKAGING COUNCIL BEEN SELECTED TO RUN THE ACCORD?
- The Packaging Council was formed in 1992 at the request of Government. The then Government did not want to deal with individual companies on issues related to packaging / packaging waste.
- The Packaging Council represents the packaged goods industry (its members) on issues relating to packaging / packaging waste. It is in effect, a government lobbyist.
- The Packaging Council now has a 12 year history representing the packaged goods industry.
- As per the 1996 Accord, Central Government has officially recognised the Packaging Council of New Zealand as the appropriate body to put into place, monitor and report annually, industry progress against Accord objectives.
- The Packaging Council will negotiate with other packaging industry organisations whose members are below a certain turnover. These organisations may be part of the Accord process through a reduced subscription through their industry organisation.
- All other organisations are expected to join in their own right.
DO YOU REQUIRE FURTHER INFORMATION, OR WOULD YOU LIKE THE PACKAGING COUNCIL PERSONNEL TO VISIT AND TALK THROUGH THE IMPLICATIONS OF ACCORD 2004 TO YOUR ORGANISATION?
Please contact PAUL CURTIS on 09 271 4044
REFERENCE WEBSITES
A WORD TO THE WISE
- The Packaging Council acknowledges and warns industry of the scrutiny which all parties to the Accord will be under by those who are not in favour of a voluntary stance taken by Government in support of the commercial sector.
- The packaged goods industry has been given a further opportunity to monitor itself without draconian legislation. WE URGE INDUSTRY TO RESPOND APPROPRIATELY and take up the opportunity to make a difference.
- Accord 2004 is not just a packaging issue it is a COMMERCIAL and PROFIT issue.
FREE LOADERS
- While the Accord is a “voluntary programme” it behoves all in the packaged goods industry, if there is to be no legislation on packaging / packaging waste for a further five year period, to work within the framework.
- This cannot be achieved without being a member of the Packaging Council and helping to “fund” the process.
- It is unfair on those who have contributed for many years to a voluntary process so that the “whole” can enjoy a non-regulatory climate.
- The Government recognises that “free loading” is unacceptable and is working on a programme to ensure that “free loaders” are brought into the process.
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