On February 17, 2023, the Ministry of Environment of New Zealand published the Guidelines for Plastic Products Prohibited from Mid-2025.According to the guidelines, New Zealand will phase out difficult-to-recycle plastic products, including all other PVC and polystyrene food and beverage packaging, by mid-2025.

Polyvinyl chloride and polystyrene food and beverage packaging are palletized containers (lidded or lidless) sold as packaging containing food and beverage products, such as films or packages of bags, bowls, cups, which are proposed to be phased out by mid-2025.Common examples are cookie trays and containers, yogurt and some dairy bottles, etc.

Since October 1, 2022, New Zealand has banned the use of the following single-use plastics (SUPs):-PVC food trays and containers, limited to prefabricated trays for agricultural products, baked goods and meat;

-Polystyrene takeaway food and beverage packaging;

Expanded polystyrene food and beverage packaging;

Plastics containing degradation-promoting additives, such as oxidative and photodegradable plastics;

— — Plastic beverage mixer;

— — Plastic cotton swab with handle.

More SUPs will be banned from July 1:

-Plastic bags for agricultural products;

-Plastic plates, bowls and cutlery;

-Plastic straw.