Hon Scott Simpson
Associate Minister for the Environment
10 October 2017
Media Statement
Government congratulates industry for action on plastic bags
Associate Environment Minister Scott Simpson has congratulated Countdown and New World supermarkets for taking an
industry-led response to combat the usage of single-use plastic bags.
Countdown recently announced that single-use plastic carrier bags will be phased out from their stores and online
shopping by the end of 2018, and New World has today announced that they will aim to phase out single use plastic bags
by the end of 2018 as well through measures such as the introduction of a voluntary 10 cent levy on single-use plastic
bags.
“The Government encourages voluntary approaches by businesses and communities that promote reducing, reusing, recycling
and recovering resources. Both initiatives announced by Countdown and New World highlight that industry has the ability
and determination to improve environmental outcomes in New Zealand,” Mr Simpson says.
Mr Simpson has met with representatives from local government, industry, business, and communities to identify options
to reduce plastic bag consumption.
“I am pleased with the progress that has been made since I became Associate Environment Minister. Typically most cost
effective and efficient solutions are industry lead. These announcements show the sector can move voluntarily without
the need for heavy-handed regulation.
“By encouraging behaviour change and increasing infrastructure and services to support recycling, I believe we will
continue to see plastic waste minimisation in New Zealand. I encourage all New Zealand businesses to follow the
leadership of these supermarkets and take up the opportunities to reduce, reuse and recycle and promote environmentally
friendly behaviours.”
ends