The New Zealand government has announced $5 million in funding for projects that will reduce plastic waste.
Environment Minister David Parker said Aotearoa has some way to go to catch up with the rest of the world in terms of its recycling practices.
Among the innovations being invested in are recycled pipes, bio-degradable nursery pots, and turning polystyrene into building products.
Parker said even with radical change, this was set to worsen up to five times before it got better.
He said wealthy countries such as New Zealand needed to be leading by example.
The government was providing $1m to design a regulated plastic packaging product stewardship scheme over two years.
The Packaging Forum and the NZ Food and Grocery Council will also contribute funding to the project, which will cost a total of $1,361,000.
