New Zealand — single-use plastic ban explained

Plastics play an important role in our economy and daily lives. When used in packaging, plastic helps ensure food safety and reduce food waste. But often, the way plastics are produced, used and discarded can result in wasted resources, causing pollution and litter.

Bonson supports the single-use plastic ban as an effort to reduce the use of problematic single-use plastic products.

As a food packaging supplier, we are proud to be leading the way with our customers in making the change, taking a positive step towards a circular economy by avoiding waste and adopting reusable or recyclable options in plastic packaging.

Below is key information you need to prepare for the ban

Feel free to download and share our compiled factsheet with your staff or customers to help them make sustainable decisions. You can also find more information about the ban by visiting the Ministry for the Environment website.

Image source: (2021) Phasing out problematic plastics in Aotearoa [Infographic]. Ministry for the Environment. https://environment.govt.nz/what-government-is-doing/areas-of-work/waste/plastic-phase-out/

 

Buying from Bonson

Minimising our impact on the environment is a key motivator in our decision making.

We are currently phasing out all hard to recycle plastic items ahead of the plastic ban, bringing you new innovations that are kinder to the environment.

Our Bonson Solutions division features packaging solutions that are made with valuable plastics widely accepted for kerbside recycling collection in New Zealand – including PET (plastic numbered 1) and PP (plastic numbered 5) takeaway and reusable packaging. Browse our Bonson Enviro ranges for packaging alternatives that are made with rapidly renewable natural materials like sugarcane and paper.

Banned items from late-2022

Banned Items		Bonson Affected	Bonson Alternatives
	PVC meat trays	N/A	Full Range We do not use PVC in any of our products
	PS Takeaway Packaging	PS Cutlery PS Portion Cups	Sugarcane Cutlery PP, PET, Sugarcane Portion Cups PP, RPET, Kraft, Sugarcane Containers
	EPS Food Packaging	EPS Clamshells	RPET, Kraft, Sugarcane Clamshells
	EPS Drink Packaging	N/A	Sugarcane Cups Recycled PET Cups PLA Cups
	Oxo & Photo Degradable Plastics	N/A	Full Range We do not use oxo & photo degradable plastics in any of our products
	Plastic Drink Stirrers	N/A
	Plastic Stemmed Cotton-buds	Non-food-packaging item

Banned items from mid-2023

Banned Items		Bonson Affected	Bonson Alternatives
	Plastic Produce Bags	N/A	Paper Bags
	Plastic Tableware Plates/Bowls/Cutlery	PP Snack Bowls BS-7B PP Snack Plates BS-7P / BS-9P / BS-9PB	PP, RPET, PLA, Kraft, Sugarcane Bowls Paper, Sugarcane Plates & Trays
	Plastic Straws	N/A	Recycled PET Strawless Cup Lid
	Non-home Compostable Produce Labels	Non-food-packaging item

Banned items from mid-2025

Banned Items		Bonson Affected	Bonson Alternatives
	All PVC Food & Beverage Packaging	N/A	Full Range All our recyclable plastic and Enviro range are suitable alternatives
	All PS Food & Beverage Packaging	N/A