Hawke's Bay can change New Zealand's attitude to plastic

Hawthorne Coffee Roasters Tom Ormond with Origin Earth owner Joanie Williams. Photo / Duncan Brown

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.

"The message we are saying to our customers is that it costs to care and it takes a great deal of effort. We are re-iterating that hugely - and they just get it.

"The goal is a moving target at the moment, but I have got a goal of reducing at least 2000 2-litre milk bottles going into the waste bin every week, by June 1.

"At the moment the target is 2000 every week by June 1, but each week I have been lifting the target. I started off at 1000, then it went to 1500 and now it's at 2000 - and that doesn't look like it's challenging enough."

She had been working on the project for about two years.

"I was refilling glass bottles at my cafe and it just occurred to me, why can't I refill plastic milk bottles. The final clincher was that my current delivery truck is at capacity so I had a truck built fit-for purpose for the bulk containers and for events.

"Our new van and our new labels will all have Great Things Grow Here on them - and for us that's something we're immensely proud of.

"One of the really sobering things I came across is when I look at a plastic milk bottle there is more plastic in that bottle, covering a $3 retail bottle of milk than there is that covers a $150 sirloin side of beef and I just found that ridiculous.

"I believe this project will change Hawke's Bay and I believe Hawke's Bay will change this country."