A new collaboration between industry and Government marks the first step towards a circular economy for soft plastic
packaging in New Zealand. Technology developer Licella, cardboard packaging and paper recycler Oji Fibre Solutions,
on-farm plastic recycler Plasback, New Zealand’s largest red meat processing and marketing company, Silver Fern Farms,
and grocery retailer Woolworths New Zealand, with support from the Ministry for the Environment’s Plastics Innovation
Fund, today announced a joint feasibility study to determine the technical, economic, and environmental benefits of a
local advanced recycling industry.
Advanced chemical recycling is new technology for New Zealand and turns waste plastics back into oil – offering a new
life for post-consumer soft plastic that is difficult to recycle mechanically and often ends up in landfill. This oil
re-enters the plastics supply chain as a substitute for fossil oil. Advanced recycling complements New Zealand’s
existing recycling options and creates a circular solution for a wide range of difficult to recycle plastic.
The Feasibility Study will evaluate potential sites in New Zealand to establish an advanced chemical recycling facility
using Licella’s innovative Australian Cat-HTR™ (Catalytic Hydrothermal Reactor) technology.
The Cat-HTR™ platform is an innovative advanced recycled technology that uses hot, pressurised water, via a process
known as hydrothermal liquefaction, to continuously recycle end-of-life plastic that would otherwise be sent to
landfill.
“Advanced chemical recycling has an important place in the circular economy for plastic, creating greater value and less
emissions than waste to energy. With a commercial project already under development in Australia, New Zealand has the
advantage of being a fast follower to quickly adopt state of the art technology that can potentially revolutionise how
we manage plastic” said Simon Mathewson, Licella’s GM of Business Development.
Licella CEO, Mr Alan Nicholl, explained that advanced recycling in New Zealand could provide food brands access to the
food-grade recycled packaging that they require. “We’re excited to be working alongside a diverse and highly respected
international consulting team and industry partners who are the leaders in their field” he said.
Woolworths New Zealand’s Head of Sustainability, Catherine Langabeer, says the supermarket is proud to be supporting the
feasibility study and hopes it will make a meaningful contribution to a more sustainable and future-fit Aotearoa New
Zealand. “Our customers want to see focussed action on plastics and for us to move quickly to find more circular
solutions for waste. We have ambitious plans to meet that demand and absolutely support the need to accelerate New
Zealand innovation with studies like this” says Catherine.
OJIFS CEO, Jon Ryder, said “As a large player in NZ’s paper-based packaging and recycling sectors, we are keen to
understand the application of this technology, so we will be very interested in the study findings”.
Silver Fern Farms' Chief Sustainability & Risk Officer, Kate Beddoe, says the company has been actively working towards a circular use model, with a particular
focus on PPE use and packaging.
"In the short term, plastics play a critical role in our product quality, safety and shelf life, and in protecting our
people at work. However, alongside options for plastic alternatives, we are also keen for medium term solutions that
close the loop on recycling of contaminated plastics. This project is a very important step towards solving that for New
Zealand," she says.
Plasback Commercial Manager, Neal Shaw, says that the Licella initiative to create a circular solution for waste plastic
is another step forward in discovering the most efficient way to process the plastic. “The Agricultural sector has been
working on the collection and processing of plastic for about 17 years but has largely been consigned to exporting for
processing, the plastic is often industrial and has levels of contamination that make it less preferable for mechanical
recycling processors due to the high costs associated with the process in NZ. Plasback is supportive of finding
alternative solutions and is pleased to be able to contribute to the feasibility study to determine the benefits with a
view to recycling the more difficult to recycle plastics.”