The boutique Hawke's Bay dairy company behind a plastic reduction scheme believes the region's "runaway train" attitude to plastic waste reduction can gather enough steam to change New Zealand.
Dairy company Origin Earth is ditching the one-use plastic milk bottle in favour of reusable, larger jugs and delivering those to customers in large bulk bins.
Company owner Joanie Williams said the project started out as a trial with Hereworth School at the start of term one, but after she reviewed the process three weeks ago, it had turned into a "runaway train" with customers jumping on board with the idea of reducing plastic bottle use.
"At that point I had to figure out how we were going to manage an 18 litre container of milk.
"I supply 27 cafes and restaurants and every single one is wanting to come on board. All of my customers are wanting to be part of it.