Packaging Bans in New Zealand

What Businesses Need to Know

New Zealand has introduced nationwide restrictions on a range of single-use and hard-to-recycle plastics as part of its move towards a lower-waste, more circular economy. The rules affect retailers, hospitality businesses, manufacturers, distributors and other organisations, making it important to understand whether the packaging and disposable products your business purchases are permitted for sale or supply.

As the purchaser and user of packaging, it is your responsibility to understand the regulations that apply to your business and ensure the products you purchase are suitable for their intended use. This guide provides a general overview to help you make informed packaging choices; however, businesses should always refer to the latest New Zealand Government requirements for current regulations.

What’s Currently Banned or Restricted?

New Zealand's plastic phase-outs were introduced progressively, with significant restrictions taking effect in October 2022 and July 2023.

Products currently banned or restricted include:

  • Single-use plastic produce bags provided for loose fresh fruit and vegetables
  • Single-use plastic plates and bowls
  • Single-use plastic cutlery
  • Single-use plastic drink stirrers
  • Plastic-stemmed cotton buds
  • Certain PVC food trays and containers
  • Polystyrene and expanded polystyrene (EPS) takeaway food and drink packaging
  • Plastics containing pro-degradant additives, including oxo and photo-degradable plastics
  • Single-use plastic drinking straws for general use, subject to specific accessibility and health exemptions

Importantly, some bans apply regardless of whether the plastic is described as recyclable, biodegradable or compostable. Businesses should therefore check the actual product and material requirements rather than assuming a sustainability claim makes an item compliant.

Plastic Bags & Retail Packaging

For retailers, it is particularly important to understand the difference between a banned single-use bag and packaging that remains permitted.

Single-use plastic produce bags used by customers to pack loose fruit and vegetables at the point of sale have been banned since 1 July 2023. This includes produce bags made from conventional, recyclable, biodegradable, plant-based and compostable plastics.

However, the produce bag ban does not apply to plastic bags that form part of the packaging of produce that was packaged before being offered for sale.

When selecting retail bags and other packaging, businesses should consider whether the item is specifically captured by a ban, what material it contains, how it will be used and what will happen to it at the end of its life.

What About Food Packaging?

A number of New Zealand's plastic restrictions specifically affect the food and hospitality industry, including certain takeaway containers, EPS packaging, tableware, cutlery, straws and produce packaging.

Not every plastic food container is currently prohibited. For example, the July 2023 tableware ban did not itself prohibit all lidded plastic containers or all single-use plastic cups. Businesses should check the specific material and intended use of each product before purchasing.

The Government had originally planned to phase out remaining PVC and polystyrene food and beverage packaging in 2025, but this deadline was subsequently removed while further policy work is undertaken. Businesses should therefore continue monitoring Government guidance for future changes.

Are There Any Exemptions?

Yes. Some exemptions and exclusions exist depending on the product and its purpose.

One important example is single-use plastic drinking straws. People who require plastic straws because of a disability or health condition can continue to access them. Certain supermarkets, pharmacies, hospitality businesses, education providers, charities and health or disability services can provide straws to people who need them.

A person requesting an eligible straw does not need to provide proof or explain their disability or health condition.

Other exclusions can apply to particular packaging formats and specialised uses, so businesses should check the requirements relevant to their products.

What Should Your Business Do?

  • Review your packaging range – Identify single-use plastics and check whether any products are covered by current restrictions.
  • Check the material – Don't rely solely on terms such as "biodegradable", "compostable" or "recyclable". Some bans include these plastics.
  • Consider reusable alternatives – Where practical, choose products designed to be used repeatedly rather than disposed of after one use.
  • Look at paper and fibre alternatives – Paper and fibre-based packaging can provide an alternative for many retail and food-service applications.
  • Consider recycled content – Where plastic remains appropriate and permitted, consider products incorporating recycled material.
  • Keep packaging simple – Packaging made from fewer material types can generally be easier to recover or process at end-of-life.
  • Review your supply chain – Speak with packaging suppliers about product composition, intended use and available alternatives.
  • Keep checking the regulations – New Zealand's plastics policy continues to evolve, so don't assume that a product permitted today will remain unaffected by future changes.

Choosing an Alternative

Replacing a banned plastic product isn't simply about swapping plastic for another disposable material. Consider the whole life of the packaging.

Ask whether the packaging can be reused, whether it contains recycled content, whether its materials can be readily recovered, and whether unnecessary components can be removed. You should also consider durability, product protection, transport requirements and how your customer is expected to dispose of the packaging.

For retail applications, this may mean considering paper carry bags, reusable bags, paper-based product packaging or other lower-plastic solutions. For food applications, fibre-based, reusable and other compliant alternatives may be suitable depending on the product and its intended use.

What’s Next?

New Zealand's plastic phase-out is continuing to evolve. The Government removed the original 2025 deadline for the third stage, which had proposed phasing out remaining PVC and polystyrene food and beverage packaging. Further policy work is being undertaken before decisions are made on these products.

Produce-label requirements are also continuing to evolve, with further requirements for fully home-compostable labels and adhesives having been extended beyond the original 2025 timeframe.

Businesses should therefore treat plastic compliance as an ongoing responsibility, regularly reviewing their packaging range and checking the latest Government requirements before introducing new products.

Important Information for Our Customers

Bee Dee Bags offers a broad range of packaging products to suit businesses across many different industries and applications. Not every product is suitable or legally permitted for every use or business.

It is the customer's responsibility to determine whether a product is suitable and compliant for its location, industry and intended application before purchasing or supplying it to an end customer.

Plastic regulations can change, and different rules can apply depending on a product's material, construction and intended use. We recommend reviewing the latest guidance from the New Zealand Ministry for the Environment when making packaging decisions.

Bee Dee Bags can help you explore paper, reusable, recycled-content and other packaging alternatives where you are looking to transition away from restricted single-use plastics.

Stay Up to Date

Plastic regulations can change over time, and it is the responsibility of each business to ensure the packaging they purchase and supply complies with current New Zealand requirements.

For the latest information, exemptions and detailed product definitions, we recommend referring directly to the New Zealand Ministry for the Environment.

Useful Government Resources:

Please note: This guide is intended as general information only. Regulations and product requirements may change, and customers should confirm the suitability and compliance of packaging for their individual business and intended application.