New Zealand is moving closer to a regulated plastic packaging stewardship scheme as part of its national priority product stewardship framework. The approach shifts responsibility for packaging waste from local authorities and communities to producers and importers that place packaging on the market.
Plastic packaging was designated a priority product under the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 in 2020. The designation requires the development of a mandatory product stewardship scheme and gives the government the power to regulate how the packaging is managed at end of life.
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The initiative reflects a broader policy shift toward extended producer responsibility (EPR) and circular economy principles in the country’s waste management strategy.
Plastic packaging declared a priority product
New Zealand identified six product groups as priority products for regulated stewardship schemes: plastic packaging, tyres, electrical and electronic products, agrichemicals and their containers, refrigerants, and farm plastics.
A product receives priority status when it poses environmental risks as waste or when there are clear benefits from improved recovery, reuse or recycling.
Plastic packaging was included due to its high waste volumes and environmental impact. In 2022, the country generated an estimated 263,000 tonnes of plastic packaging, but only 17% was recycled.
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By GlobalDataGovernment policy aims to address the environmental effects of plastic waste, including marine pollution and microplastic contamination. At present, the cost of managing post-consumer plastic packaging largely falls on local councils and communities.
Under priority product rules, the government can require producers to participate in an accredited stewardship scheme and may prohibit the sale of products outside that scheme.
Industry-led scheme design
Industry groups have been developing a proposed Plastic Packaging Product Stewardship (PPPS) scheme, with the final design report released in May 2025.
The proposal outlines a producer-led system that would require brands and manufacturers to take responsibility for the plastic packaging they introduce to the market. The scheme is intended to support better collection systems, improve recycling outcomes and encourage packaging design changes.
The project was jointly developed by industry organisations representing packaging and food and grocery sectors, with support from the Ministry for the Environment. Extensive consultation across the packaging value chain informed the scheme design.
If adopted through regulation, producers would fund the net costs of collecting and recycling in-scope plastic packaging, typically through stewardship fees applied at the point of manufacture or import.
The scheme would cover most plastic packaging used for consumer goods sold through retail and wholesale channels.
Implications for the packaging sector
Priority product stewardship is expected to affect companies involved in manufacturing, importing and selling packaged goods in New Zealand.
Under the Waste Minimisation Act framework, businesses placing priority products on the market must participate in accredited stewardship schemes once regulations are introduced.
For the packaging industry, this could mean new requirements for data reporting, financial contributions to recycling systems and packaging design improvements to support recyclability and material recovery.
Regulated stewardship is designed to address shortcomings in voluntary waste schemes, which have historically struggled with uneven participation and limited funding.
The policy direction aligns with international trends toward extended producer responsibility for packaging, already widely used in Europe and other regions.
As New Zealand continues developing its packaging stewardship framework, the proposed plastic packaging scheme represents a significant step in reshaping how packaging waste is managed across the country’s supply chain.
