Sustainability and waste
Understanding your role in our event's sustainability journey
Exhibitors play a huge role in the sustainability initiatives behind Fieldays. Your business practices have a immense impact on the success of our sustainability efforts on-site. Fieldays work closely with Instep™ and Closed Loop™ to ensure we adhere to best practices for ISO 20121 Sustainable Event Management.
Sustainability at Fieldays
Prohibited serveware and packaging
In line with the Waste Minimisation Act and the Ministry for the Environment's position regarding the phasing out of plastic and problematic packaging, it is prudent that Fieldays commence the journey of eliminating problematic packaging. As well as the regulations set by the government, Fieldays needs to be a PLA-free (includes PLA-lined coffee cups, PLA taster cups, PLA chip cups), bagasse-free, and bamboo-free event. Fieldays also aims to be single-use plastic-free by 2027.
The following packaging is prohibited at Fieldays and cannot be used:
| Product | Details | NZ GOVT Status |
| Bagasse packaging | This packaging is also known as bamboo/sugarcane packaging | N/A |
| Bamboo cutlery | Avoid bamboo and choose uncoated wooden items instead | N/A |
| PLA or non-recyclable plastic cups and lids | Refers to Plastic #7 cups made from PLA (Bio-Plastic) | N/A |
| PLA Packaging | This can include paper or cardboard packaging that has a PLA lining | N/A |
| Plastic plates, bowls and cutlery | Banned | |
| Plastic straws | Banned | |
| Polystyrene food and drink packaging | Includes expanded polystyrene (EPS) | Banned |
| Plastic drink stirrers | Banned | |
| Plastic with pro-degradant additives | Banned | |
| Pre-formed PVC food trays and containers | Banned |
Suggested compostable packaging
You can procure the correct packaging from various distributors, provided it aligns with the Kraft, cutlery, and drinks range mentioned below. Additionally, you can explore sustainable food packaging options at Closed Loop's Sustainable Food Packaging division. Sustainable Food Packaging | Closed Loop
- Kraft packaging is the preferred product that can be composted locally: Clamshells and chip cups, burger boxes, snack and dinner boxes, catering trays, carry boxes, open trays and combo boxes.
- Cutlery & Accessories:
Wooden cutlery and chopsticks, paper napkins, 100% paper grease-proof etc are the only suitable options that can be composted. - Drinks & Accessories:
Kraft coffee sleeves, Home Compostable Certified Aqueous lined paper cups and paper straws
The only exception at this stage is for rPET 1 cups and lids which will be sorted and recycled.
PLA-lined coffee cups cannot be recycled or composted and will end up in a landfill. - Taster/Sample Cups - either PET or rPET which are both recyclable plastic #1 or go for a small aqueous lined paper cup. Simply inquire with your supplier regarding their ability to provide this item.
Guide for approved packaging
Improve your overall sustainability
- Think about sustainable shipping practices: ship in bulk, reduce the size of your packaging, and limit individual shipments.
- Be sure to your suppliers if they can reduce to amount of non-recyclable packaging or better still find an alternative.
- Purchase product through suppliers utilising environmentally safe packaging where possible.
- Identify the two largest waste streams you generate and define a plan to minimise these.
- Leave it at home - utilise your existing recycling facilities to dispose of items properly before you even get to Fieldays.
- Take it with you - ensure you take any post-event waste which cannot be responsibly disposed of off our site when you leave.
- Show waste avoidance and minimisation by sorting waste at the source: put cardboard, food and general waste into the correct bins.
- Review what recycling code numbers your plastic has. Hamilton is restricted to recycle plastic items with number 1, 2 and 5 only – if you have another number, work with your suppliers for alternatives.
- Work with suppliers, including your caterers, café, coffee, and production partners to ensure that your entire exhibition site is following all the guidelines. It is the responsibility of each exhibitor to ensure all suppliers that build and produce your site are following all the guidelines.
General waste, recycling and compostable waste
BROKEN GLASS is a Health and Safety risk and will not be recycled. If you have been provided with a glass recycling bin, please use it with care.
Do not store rubbish in boxes behind partitions on your site, as this could be a fire hazard or attract vermin.
Clearly labelled General Waste, Recycling, and Compostable Waste bins are located in waste stations throughout the Fieldays site. Please separate your recycling, glass, broken down cardboard, landfill and compostable and place in or next to these bin stations multiple times throughout the day. A few minutes of your time will save the Waste Team working overnight and minimise health and safety risks.
Our waste crew will work towards the highest landfill diversion rate as possible, so please consider separating the following:
- Glass (separated into single colours – green, clear, brown)
- Plastic (1, 2, 5 only)
- Aluminium cans (do not crush)
- Cardboard and paper – with boxes broken down
- Building materials – including timber and metal
- Pallets
- Food waste
- Approved Compostable Packaging.
- Avoid bringing these problem items to Fieldays:
- Soft plastics (eg: clothing covers) we cannot recycle large volumes of these
- Coat hangers cannot be recycled, consider reusing or sending them back to your suppliers instead
- Non-compostable coffee cups, lids, and hot chip containers go straight to landfill
- Compostable packaging with non-compostable stickers, or plastic windows – the stickers and plastic windows cause the entire packaging to be unrecyclable.
Sustainability Tips for Exhibitors
Sustainability tips for Exhibitors
- When planning your site think about what things you can reuse for multiple events (ie. cardboard boxes). Avoid single-use non-recyclable items.
- Use environmentally responsible materials in your site design.
- Design signage so that it can be stored and reused multiple times.
- Minimise packing materials. Whenever possible, use environmentally responsible packing materials that are reusable.
- When purchasing compostable packaging for the event, remember that many commercial composters are not accepting compostable material that contains PFAS, bamboo, bagasse, or PLA lined cups of any kind.
- Textile or meal strapping could be used instead of plastic.
- Participate in the event’s recycling efforts.
- Make sure your staff are trained on environmentally responsible practices that are being implemented during the event.
- Provide promotional material electronically using QR codes for example.
- Giveaways could also be electronic e.g., free music downloads, free online subscriptions or even a donation to a charity in the name of that visitor.
- When travelling to the event, carpool wherever possible. If travelling by plane, choose to off-set your flight. For car rentals, choose electric or low-emission vehicles.
- Use a Low Carbon Freight Pathway for getting stock delivered.
- Find a home for any unused materials after the event, consider donating these to a social venture.
- If using catering, make sure the caterer knows about your sustainable practices, and they follow them.
- Donate food that is still wrapped.
Partners and Premier Sponsor
