The plastics industry is already on the path towards a circular economy

Labour's promising to phase out single use and hard to recycle plastic items such as cotton buds, cutlery, produce bags, straws, and some cups and lids -- by 2025.

Plastics New Zealand CEO Rachel Barker says at the moment the Government has consultation open, around material phase outs and single use plastic items.

She says they're working though a lot of that at the moment - trying to work out what an appropriate time frame is for certain materials and items.