Cold water poured on plastics pledge

A pledge by international and local companies to tackle plastic waste is a ‘‘false solution’’ to a worsening problem, Greenpeace says.

Twelve local and international companies signed a declaration in Auckland yesterday, World Environmental Day, to move to reusable, recyclable or compostable plastics by 2025.

International companies who agreed to sign include Amcor, Danone, L’oreal, Mars, Pepsico, Coca-cola, Unilever and Nestle. Local companies included Foodstuffs, Countdown, New Zealand Post and Frucor Suntory.

Greenpeace oceans campaigner Emily Hunter said the declaration was an ‘‘industry-led false solution’’ to the scourge of plastic pollution in our oceans.

‘‘The crucial word missing in that pledge is ‘reduction’,’’ Hunter said.

‘‘We need to be wary of pledges like this that sound good, but in reality allow the rise of plastic packaging production in our lives and our oceans, all while companies pose as green leaders.’’

The commitment to make plastic packaging recyclable and compostable would do little to turn the tide on plastic pollution, she said.

‘‘Companies and government need to focus on reductions and eliminations of single-use plastics production if they are serious about tackling this issue.

‘‘Pledges like this ignore the stark reality of what’s happening.’’

Plastic packaging use was predicted to double by 2020 and quadruple by 2050, while globally, the level of recycling was only around 14 per cent, Hunter said.

‘‘It’s clear we cannot recycle our way out of this problem. If we don’t eliminate and significantly reduce plastic packaging and single-use plastics, this problem won’t be fixed.’’

However, Greenpeace applauded companies which were beginning to eliminate single-use plastics from their shelves and checkouts.

Countdown has already started phasing out plastic bags, with 10 stores no longer selling plastic bags, and is going to remove plastic packaging from hundreds of its in-house products within seven years. It will also stop selling plastic straws from October 1.

Meanwhile, Foodstuffs, which owns New World, Foursquare and Fresh Choice, is also phasing out single-use plastic bags, and plans to remove plastic packaging from its Pams, Pams Finest and Value brands.

A Foodstuffs spokeswoman said it would also work with industry partners to help develop domestic markets for recovered plastics.

Foodstuffs was the first retailer in New Zealand to introduce food trays made of recycled PET, helping to divert 80 million food trays from landfill.

Yesterday, Associate Environmental Minister Eugenie Sage said the companies had pledged to do their bit to ‘‘stem the tide of plastic waste and plastic pollution’’.

‘‘Signing the declaration is a significant and important step towards reducing the amount of plastic that we produce and helping end plastic pollution.’’