26 August 2005
Packaging Council of NZ.
Judges Reward Broad Approach To Minimising Packaging Products’ Environmental Impact
Judges of the 2005 Environmentally Acceptable Packaging Awards have awarded the Packaging Council Supreme Award to
Viscount Plastics NZ Ltd of Mt Wellington for their integrated packaging system incorporating Deep Nest Crates,
Re-crates and Ezy Pak catering containers.
From a field of over sixty entries the Viscount Plastics entry was selected as demonstrating a wide range of
environmental benefits through all aspects of the product from design, resource use in operation through to eventual
disposal through recycling. The Supreme Award recognised the commitment to an overall environmental gain, not just the
packaging, with the added bonus of a cost and fuel saving to the customer.
Environment Minister, the Honourable Marian Hobbs, also presented ten category awards, eight highly-commended, three
commended and two special recognition awards at a gala dinner held at Villa Maria’s new winery in Mangere on 26th
August. The Awards cover a wide range of different packaging types as well as design, systems and promotions to
encourage waste minimisation and resource recovery.
The Minister congratulated industry on their commitment to improve the sustainability of packaging. This included the
reduction in packaging waste, product light-weighting, improved systems, processes and environmental impact and for
promoting key environmental messages to consumers through education programmes, point of sale and on product.
Deb Statham of the Packaging Council stated "it is again encouraging to see that much is being done to ensure that the
packaged goods industry proves its commitment to the philosophy of the Packaging Accord. This year’s awards entries
highlight product stewardship throughout the packaging life cycle, greater material and energy efficiency in the
production, use and recovery of packaging, materials and supply chain initiatives that foster markets for sustainably
made packaging, including more use of recovered packaging materials.”
“I believe the packaged goods industry is placing greater emphasis on recovered packaging materials going into new and
innovative markets along with in-house environmental impact initiatives becoming a key driver for larger organisations.
The statistics of packaging waste being diverted from landfill in the entries received under the Environmental Impact
category are impressive,” said Statham.
ENDS