Packaging rule · New Zealand · Ban
Stage 3 plastic phase-out (PVC and polystyrene food and drink packaging)
Ban covering plastic in New Zealand, set by Ministry for the Environment. Proposed, not yet law.
The rule
Recorded from the official source named below. Rates and dates are as the source states them on the date it was consulted.
- Jurisdiction
- New Zealand
- Authority
- Ministry for the Environment
- Rule type
- Ban
- Materials
- Plastic
- Status
- Proposed Proposed, not law
- Proposed
- 18 December 2024
From the source“The Government has removed the 2025 deadline for the third tranche of plastic phase-outs.”
Official source Ministry for the Environment: Update on waste policiesOfficial (government or regulator) · consulted 13 October 2026
Key dates
Proposed 1 year and 9 months ago
Source consulted by the SPI team today
Dates for a proposal are those in the text as proposed and may change before adoption.
What it means
SPI analysis Our reading of the official source above. Not legal advice; always rely on the official text.
SPI summary
The third tranche of plastic phase-outs, covering all PVC and polystyrene food and drink packaging not covered by earlier phase-outs, was originally intended to come into force from mid-2025. On 18 December 2024 the Government removed the 2025 deadline so the Ministry can do more work to decide next steps for these products. No new date has been set.
In practice
A third stage of New Zealand's plastic phase-out would have covered PVC and polystyrene food and drink packaging not caught by earlier stages from mid-2025. On 18 December 2024 the Government removed that deadline and asked the Ministry to do more work on next steps, so there is currently no date by which these formats must leave the market. Converters and brand owners using PVC or polystyrene food packaging in New Zealand face uncertainty rather than a fixed deadline.
Who is in scope
- PVC and polystyrene food and drink packaging not covered by the 2022 and 2023 phase-outs, as originally proposed
Who is not
- Items already banned in stages 1 and 2, such as PVC food trays and polystyrene takeaway packaging, which remain banned
What to do and by when
- NowMap remaining PVC and polystyrene food packaging supplied into New Zealand.
- NowCheck Ministry announcements for any new proposal or consultation on these formats.
- When a new date is announcedPlan material substitution to that timetable.
Related rules
- PR-NZ-001 Plastic phase-outs (stages 1 and 2)
Stages 1 and 2 of the same phase-out remain in force. - PR-CA-005 B.C. Single-Use and Plastic Waste Prevention Regulation
British Columbia restricts PVC and polystyrene foam food service ware with dated exemptions. - PR-US-013 Oregon polystyrene foam and PFAS foodware ban (SB 543)
Oregon's polystyrene foam foodware ban, a comparable material restriction.
Where the record is unclear
- No new date or decision on next steps has been published on the official pages reviewed.
- Whether the policy will return in its original form is not stated.
Sources for this note
- Ministry for the Environment: Update on waste policies Consulted 13 October 2026
- Ministry for the Environment: Plastic phase-out Consulted 13 October 2026
Note written by the SPI team on 13 October 2026.
Where it sits in the tracker
- One of 2 packaging rules we track in New Zealand, of which 2 are ban rules.
- In all, 17 ban rules are tracked across 11 jurisdictions. Compare them below
Change history
Sourced: an SPI analyst recorded the facts above from the official source. A second SPI team member has not re-checked it yet. Every change is logged here.
Changed: status, SPI summary, rate note
Verified by a second SPI team member
Changed: SPI summary, rate note
Added to the tracker
Spotted an error? Write to sales@strategicpackaginginsights.com quoting PR-NZ-002 and the source. Corrections are logged in this history.
Ban rules elsewhere
The same type of rule for the same materials in other jurisdictions, by the date it applies.
| Rule | Where | Type | Materials | Status | Applies from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ban on plastic carrier bags and flat bagsPR-KE-001 | Kenya | Ban | Plastic | In force | 28 August 2017 |
| Ban on identified single-use plastic itemsPR-IN-004 | India | Ban | Plastic, Single-use plastic | In force | 1 July 2022 |
| Washington expanded polystyrene foam banPR-US-012 | Washington, United States | Ban | Plastic | In force | 1 June 2024 |
| Gradual ban on single-use plastic products (Law 2232 of 2022)PR-CO-002 | Colombia | Ban | Plastic, Single-use plastic | In force | 7 July 2024 |
| Oregon polystyrene foam and PFAS foodware ban (SB 543)PR-US-013 | Oregon, United States | Ban | Plastic | In force | 1 January 2025 |
| California EPS food service ware sales restriction (SB 54)PR-US-005 | California, United States | Ban | Plastic | In force | 1 January 2025 |
| Dubai single-use products regulation, final phasePR-AE-001 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Ban | Plastic, Single-use plastic | In force | 1 January 2026 |
| Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control (NDRC/MEE 2020 No. 80)PR-CN-001 | China | Ban | Plastic, Single-use plastic | In force | – |
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