New Zealand’s New Plastics Economy Roadmap

The Rotorua Branch of Royal Society Te Apārangi welcome Marc Gaugler from Scion, who is leading the charge on developing a New Plastics Economy Roadmap. 

Plastics are essential in modern life. While plastics have many advantages over many materials, their environmental, economic and social drawbacks are becoming evident.

Ellen McArthur foundation’s 'New Plastics Economy: rethinking the future plastics' gives a global vision for the future of the plastics industry, which is already being adopted internationally. But the New Zealand plastic and manufacturing industry, faces country and region-specific challenges for direct implementation for that vision.

Therefore, this roadmap will:

• Customise the global vision of a New Plastics Economy
• Be New Zealand specific guide for NGOs and government departments
• Outline the current barriers, challenges and opportunities that the New Zealand industry faces to move towards a circular economy, new plastic economy model
• And recommend actions to develop alongside the industry

While the roadmap is focused on the domestic plastics industry, it will include the complete plastics value-chain and consider the visions and initiatives in overseas markets.

Marc will go over what is happening internationally and more specificity how other countries setup their roadmap and initiatives to tackle the challenges around plastics while ensuring the good that they offer is utilised.