20 Aug 2018

Pacific firms urged to reduce plastic

5:00 pm on 20 August 2018

Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama is asking private firms to consider innovative ways to reduce the use of plastic.

SPREP Director General, Kosi Latu (L), Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama (C), Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Dame Meg Taylor (R) at the opening of the Clean Pacific Roundtable in Suva, August 2018

SPREP Director General, Kosi Latu (L), Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama (C), Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Dame Meg Taylor (R) at the opening of the Clean Pacific Roundtable in Suva, August 2018 Photo: Supplied

He was speaking at the opening of talks in Suva aimed at reducing pollution in the Pacific.

Mr Bainimarama pointed to his government's plan to phase out the use of plastic bags in Fiji by 2020 and its doubling of the tax on plastic bags.

The prime minister challenged the private sector to consider similarly innovative ways to change the status quo.

Even Fiji's bottled water companies needed to realise the world was entering a new era where depending on plastic would prove to be unsustainable, the prime minister said

"I assure you, it's smart business to adapt now to survive in a greener future," Mr Bainimarama told delegates to the Clean Pacific Roundtable.

Fiji Water's signpost to its Yaqara valley production base in Fiji

Fiji Water's signpost to its Yaqara valley production base in Fiji Photo: RNZ/Sally Round