Sustainability
We switched to 100% compostable serve-ware for public events on 1st September 2018.
Our Zero Waste Strategy is well under way. Last year, we replaced all single-use cups and hot food packaging with carefully-sourced plant-based alternatives from reputable local suppliers Innocent Packaging and Ecoware. Compostable waste, which includes cups, lids, straws, cutlery, napkins, food boxes and food waste, will be delivered directly to our friends at Envirofert (a local composting plant), where it is transformed into quality compost in the space of just three months!
We have compost bins located around the arena thanks to Method, so you will have two options when at an event. Almost everything we give you will be compostable, but there is always the chance of contamination from random items people bring in their pockets, so we do have some landfill bins for anything that has come from outside. In 2019, we managed to source crisps in compostable packets now, too, and we have bulk-bought sweet items and repackage them in-house, so we have barely anything to send to landfill these days. Ice cream wrappers, with the exception of those from Dr Feelgood, are unfortunately only disposable in landfill. To simplify things for all you concert goers out there, we will take care of all plastic, glass, and tin recycling behind the bars. This means our recycle bins are kept free of other waste, which is a great result!
On busy shows, we have Greener Arena ambassadors around the arena to keep it sweet, and the compost clean, so if you have any questions feel free to seek them out and have a chat!
The environmentally focused waste management company, Green Gorilla, have been instrumental in making this change possible for us. We are looking forward to seeing the positive shift that will result in the years ahead. There are more changes ahead, but we are taking it one step at a time and trying to get it right. If you have any questions, please email us before you get carried away on social media with limited knowledge of the rationale behind our strategy. This is not green-washing, we are genuinely trying to run our waste management system by following best practice.
The arena bees are busily making honey using nectar collected from our backstage garden.
For more info on what our serve-ware is made out of, check out this handy fact sheet.
FAQS
What changes are being made to make food and drink packaging compostable?
We have designed and implemented an entirely new system for all drink and hot food packaging that customers touch. This includes sourcing packaging from reputable suppliers Innocent Packaging and Ecoware, working with design-thinkers Method to create a bespoke set of bins to enhance the arena foyers and facilitate new behaviours and partnering with waste management company Green Gorilla to facilitate composting, recycling and minimise landfill.
What do I need to do when I'm at an event?
The only thing that changes for you is that there are now just two bins in the foyers - compost and landfill. You can check what goes in which bin pretty easily, but in short - all drink containers and hot food packaging goes into the compost bins.
What are the cups made out of?
Cups, straws and cold drink lids are all made from PLA (Poly Lactic Acid) or plant based polymers! Plastic is simply many long chains of repeating molecules, and with PLA these molecules are derived from corn starch instead of from fossil fuels. When processed in commercial compost yards, specifically those that can maintain the waste at a temperature above 60 degress, due to forced aeration, PLA can break down fully, back into its constituent molecules, CO2, and H20. This is a full chemical decomposition, rather than a degradation, which is when plastics are eroded into tiny particles, which remain in the environment in microscopic form. Our paper coffee cups and water cups are lined with a very thin layer of PLA to make them waterproof, so should also be composted rather than recycled. Recycling yards are not able to separate the PLA from the paper, and the paper produces methane in landfill, so composting is the way to go.
What are the plates and other food packaging made out of?
The plates, burger containers, coffee cups and trays are made from wheatstraw and bagasse. By-products from wheat and sugarcane production, the result is a diverse and easily malleable plant material that can be moulded into a number of useful products. Using only heat and water in production, these materials are super sustainable, toxin free, and able to be easily composted after use. And don't worry, wheatstraw is gluten free and bagasse is much prettier than it sounds!
What are the knives and forks made out of?
The knives and forks, as well as coffee cup lids, are made of CPLA (Crystallised Poly Lactic Acid). This is the crystalised form of PLA, derived from corn. Its heat tolerant which means it maintains the same ability to compost fully but is opaque instead of clear, and a bit more hardy.
Are the hot chip punnets and other cardboard stuff compostable?
The cardboard and paper products are made by FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) grown forests or recycled paper, that can also be composted after use. The inks used are soy based and adhesives are made from plants too. Paper products are whitened without bleach - using non-toxic oxidation.
What's with the bee on the bins and packaging?
The bee design on the bins and packaging references the beehives that are part of the garden backstage here at the arena. The beehives have been in place since 2017, with the bees collecting nectar from the pohutukawa trees on Quay Street and our backstage gardens. The first honey harvest took place in early 2018, and with the gardens being some of the first to benefit from the composted waste, its good news for the bees too. The artwork is by John Reynolds.
Why can't you just give people plastic bottles and glass bottles?
The arena has to provide drinks in crushable containers to satisfy licensing laws and safety requirements and this has traditionally been in recyclable plastic cups. Despite best efforts, cross-contamination during events due to cups, food waste, and other packaging has seen disappointingly large amounts of recyclable material end up in landfill, which is why we changed our systems. The plant-based cups will be composted, and plastic and glass bottles behind the bar will be sorted and recycled.
Why are there still bins for landfill in the foyers?
There is always the chance of contamination, so we do have some landfill bins for rogue items that get into the building, but we have managed to source some ice creams and crisps in compostable packets now, too, and we have bulk-bought sweet items and repackage them in-house, so we have barely anything to send to landfill these days. We are always on the lookout for compostable innovations as we don't want to buy and sell anything that is destined for landfill.
What about the plastic and glass bottles behind the bars?
It's inevitable that some products such as soft drinks will come into the arena in non-compostable plastics. To ensure non-contamination, these bottles will be collected behind the bars for contamination-free recycling, and drinks will be served in plant-based cups which will be composted. Because our recycling is untainted by other waste, we can be sure it is not rejected when delivered to specialist recyclers. We have reduced the amount we use by using large glass bottles for wine, rather than the small plastic bottles which many venues still use. We are also hoping to supply soft drinks in post-mix delivery rather than bottles in the future. As we are not open every day, this brings its own operational issues, but we are hoping to make changes in several of our outlets.
How do the plant-based cups and plates get turned into compost?
Compostable packaging will be transferred to Envirofert's Tuakau facility where it will be aerobically heat-processed and matured into quality compost for use on farms and gardens. Envirofert use FORCED-AERATION composting, which means they BLOW AIR through piles of shredded waste, which comprises not only our cups and packaging, but also tree trimmings, cardboard and food waste. Contrary to mistaken belief, the compost is not heated, the heat is produced by the aerobic bacteria that are active in breaking the organic matter down. The heat produced is enough to cause full chemical decompostition of PLA. Your own compost heap at home may get warm, but nothing like as hot enough for as long a time as the waste at Envirofert. Have a look at our video for a glimpse of the facility.
Why are you doing this now?
One of the key reasons for the timing is that sustainability technology now makes it possible to roll out a robust process that includes working with trustworthy product suppliers and disposal facilities, and these have only become widely available in the past few years in our region. We consider ourselves to be very lucky to have a forced-aeration composter so close to our city, and we continue to partner them to ensure that our waste is given a second life as quality compost.
