Opinion divided
OPINION: Boutique milk company Lewis Road Creamery’s latest offering to mark Matariki is unfairly facing heat from certain quarters of Māoridom, who are opposed to any commercialisation of all things Māori.
The company has been trialling bottles made from 100% recycled plastic.
To celebrate Recycling Week NZ, the company said it has now permanently shifted all its bottles to rPET, which is made from 100% recycled plastic and is 100% recyclable in New Zealand.
“No new plastic is created, and no plastic is shipped offshore because rPET is accepted by every council in the country,” said Lewis Road founder Peter Cullinane.
“It’s an additional cost to us, but it’s one we’re happy to absorb rather than pass on simply because this is the right thing to do.”
He said switching the company’s 750ml and 1.5L milk bottles had saved the production and import of 210 tonnes of fresh plastic into New Zealand.
Also, the company will now change its 300ml flavoured milk and cream bottles to rPET, and will reduce the amount of plastic used in each of its 1.5L bottles by 30%. These two moves will save an extra combined 73 tonnes of plastic each year.
“The colour of the bottles isn’t perfect,” said Cullinane.
“We’ve had to tell a few customers that even though the bottles no longer look completely clear, the product inside is still pristine. Hopefully by doing this we can help make the path easier for others who may follow.”
