Call for green status of packaging to be shown
A GIBBSTON filmmaker is seeking support to get companies to ‘‘come clean’’ about their product packaging in order to tackle the country’s growing waste crisis.
Niamh Peren, whose family owns Two Sisters Vineyard, has launched a petition urging the Government to introduce a new, simple and compulsory labelling system on all food and drink packaging in New Zealand.
The 29yearold needs to get 50,000 people to sign the petition for her proposal to be taken seriously by the Government.
Ms Peren said New Zealand was in a ‘‘current waste crisis’’.
‘‘There is tonnes and tonnes of waste piling up with nowhere for it to go.
‘‘Reducing our nation’s waste is key, but how on earth do we do that?
‘‘It seems impossible, especially when we are not empowered as consumers to make quick and informed decisions about the environmental status of the goods we buy.’’
Ms Peren was inspired to launch the petition after her holiday in Cambodia, where she saw mountains of floating plastic waste at the coastal town of Sihanouk.
Her petition, Thumbs Up New Zealand, calls for all food and drink products to be labelled with ‘‘Two Green Thumbs Up’’ if the packaging is 100% recyclable in New Zealand and made from 100% recycled materials.
Further down the scale, ‘‘One Horizontal Yellow Thumb’’ would label packaging that is 100% recyclable in New Zealand but not made from recycled materials.
Under the proposed scheme, those companies producing packaging that cannot be recycled in New Zealand would have to indicate this with a label showing ‘‘Two Red Thumbs Down’’.
Ms Peren said this would make it easier for consumers to know what they can put in the recycling bin with a clear conscience.
She said: ‘‘Sure, it might be embarrassing for companies to come clean about their packaging, but the visual and upfront nature of these labels should inspire them to seek greener solutions.
‘‘We will need our councils nationwide to agree on a single standard of what is recyclable.
‘‘As a small island nation, surely we have the means to create and share in a single green waste strategy that looks after our communities, our environment and our wildlife.’’
Hundreds have already signed the petition and she is urging locals to support her campaign.
The closing date for the petition is Sunday, July 8.
To sign or find out more, visit www.parliament.nz/en/pb/ petitions/ and search Niamh Peren.