Welcome to the first edition of Sustainability News for 2026!

The Environment Committee has been hard at work planning a year focused on connection, education, and navigating the evolving landscape of our industry.

You’ll notice our first big change right away: we’ve moved to a new EDM format. This digital-first style allows you to click through directly to the stories that matter most to you.

Here’s a look at what we have in store for 2026:

Quarterly Lunch & Learn Sessions

In addition to our quarterly newsletters, we are excited to bring back "Lunch n Learn" webinars for another year. We’re kicking things off on Tuesday, 14th April at 12:30 pm with Emily Thomas from Fonterra. Emily will provide a vital update on global regulations and, crucially, what they mean for New Zealand businesses.

Operation Clean Up 2026

Mark your calendars for 9th – 13th November. Following the incredible momentum of the last few years, we’re aiming for even greater participation this year. We encourage you to engage with your local branch for a nearby event or, if you’re in a remote location, to organise your own. We’ll be sharing more details soon, but you can count on further community engagement and, of course, a traditional sausage sizzle!

Innovation Through Challenge

We recognise that supply chain issues are currently weighing on the sector. We are here to support you through this, please reach out and let us know which topics you want us to dive into or what information would help your business right now.

This committee is driven by our members. If you’re passionate about the direction of our industry, we’d love to hear from you. Whether it's a suggestion for a future article or an interest in joining the committee itself, please reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

We look forward to a year of growth, resilience, and sustainability.

Best regards,

The Plastics NZ Environment Committee