Green Waste Products NZ

Are you interested in helping shape our first user case to tackle the environmental and social impact of gorse while also helping to reduce plastic pollution? 

We’re preparing to launch a small-scale pilot to develop a targeted bioplastic product.  We are seeking a partner and sponsor to co-develop a product and we're also keen to connect 

Are you interested in helping shape our first user case to tackle the environmental and social impact of gorse while also helping to reduce plastic pollution? 

We’re preparing to launch a small-scale pilot to develop a targeted bioplastic product.  We are seeking a partner and sponsor to co-develop a product and we're also keen to connect with people who have navigated the early stages of scaling a product.

If you're excited by the idea of regenerating landscapes, innovating sustainable alternatives for single-use plastics and supporting the first pilot in the world to turn gorse into bioplastics then Simon and I would like to hear from you. 

Thank you. 

P.S. That's a picture of our gorse-based plastic prototype produced during a 6-month trial that we wrapped up in February.

We are incredibly grateful to share the exciting news that we have been selected to join the second cohort of the Tupu Accelerator https://tupu.org.nz/.

Being part of this kaupapa marks a significant milestone in our journey. The Tupu Accelerator is all about unlocking the potential of Māori and Pasifika entrepreneurs, and we’re proud to b

We are incredibly grateful to share the exciting news that we have been selected to join the second cohort of the Tupu Accelerator https://tupu.org.nz/.

Being part of this kaupapa marks a significant milestone in our journey. The Tupu Accelerator is all about unlocking the potential of Māori and Pasifika entrepreneurs, and we’re proud to be among a group of passionate, purpose-driven businesses shaping the future of Aotearoa and beyond.

This opportunity comes at the perfect time as we’re entering an exciting new phase of growth and innovation, including looking for a partner to roll out a small-scale product trial and advancing our mission of turning green waste into green gold.

With the support, guidance, and network provided by Tupu, we’re looking forward to:

Sharpening our strategy and product-market fit.

Strengthening our impact model

Exploring new collaborations and partnerships.

And most importantly, building solutions that serve both people and planet.

To the Tupu team, our fellow cohort and everyone who has supported us on this journey to date, thank you for believing in our kaupapa.

 We are so happy to share that after 6-months of R&D the results from the final phase of polymer production and application testing are in. The testing proved that:

Gorse can be blended with a PHA.Gorse gave the PHA more strength.

The ideal proportion of gorse polymer to PHA is 15-20%.

The product prototypes created for testing had a natura

 We are so happy to share that after 6-months of R&D the results from the final phase of polymer production and application testing are in. The testing proved that:

Gorse can be blended with a PHA.Gorse gave the PHA more strength.

The ideal proportion of gorse polymer to PHA is 15-20%.

The product prototypes created for testing had a natural appearance.

We have a clear understanding of how we can improve our next gorse biopolymer (pictured above) through a variation in the PHA that we use.

In summary, we can confidently move forward, knowing that we have scientific evidence to prove that the concept is viable

A massive 'GORSOME' to the below partners for supporting our trial.

  Soul Capital

Auckland UniServices/Māori Investment Roopu

Waiwhariki Pharmaceuticals

Northland Kauri Timber Yard

Kahui Legal

NZ Food Innovation Network

For The Better Good

Scion Research

A special 'GORSOME' to Jamie Smith and Tori McNoe for those early conversations and support that ultimately enabled the trial. 

Green Waste Products NZ is an early-stage clean tech company, transforming gorse, one of Aotearoa’s most prolific invasive weeds into sustainable, high-value products. 

We’re committed to circular economies, regenerating whenua, and unlocking the untapped potential of invasive weeds through innovation, partnership, and science.

Mission

To tr

Green Waste Products NZ is an early-stage clean tech company, transforming gorse, one of Aotearoa’s most prolific invasive weeds into sustainable, high-value products. 

We’re committed to circular economies, regenerating whenua, and unlocking the untapped potential of invasive weeds through innovation, partnership, and science.

Mission

To transform gorse into bioplastics.

Vision

To restore ecosystems, empower communities, create meaningful training and career pathways and transform the future of invasive weeds through innovation.

Aspiration

To enhance the wellbeing of our planet and people, one invasive weed at a time.

Why Now?

Plastic pollution is a crisis that has spurred a worldwide crackdown on single-use plastics. 

Bioplastics account for 1% of the global plastics market which indicates potential for growth.

 
NZ currently has 25,000 exotic plant species of which hundreds actively cause harm to our native ecosystems. 
Removing invasive weeds supports Biodiversity Conservation, Habitat Degradation and Climate Change Resilience. 

Invasive weeds are a growing global problem that impacts on economies and human health e.g. cost of control, reduces land value, affects agricultural productivity and income and impacts on recreational activities.  

What are the impacts?

Environmental

•Supports several key government strategies, including the 2021 Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Review, the Aotearoa New Zealand Waste Strategy aimed at a low-emission, low-waste circular economy, and the phasing out of hard-to-recycle and single-use plastics by 2025 

•Unlocks potential new opportunities for Landowners and decreases the use of pesticides to control gorse. 

Human 

•The future products and associated story have the potential to change perceptions and behaviours by creating awareness of the invasive weed and plastic crisis.  

•Creates new high value businesses, education, training and employment pathways.  

Cultural

•Promote tikanga values.  

•Collaborate with Iwi/Hapu/Marae/Māori Landowners to reclaim land and create training, educational and employment pathways for Māori.  

•Collaborate with other indigenous peoples to lead the global fight against invasive weeds and the plastic crisis.  

CGO stands for Chief Gorse Officer. 

Koro, hails from the Hokianga, located on the West Coast of the Northland region. Koro has a background in Environmental, Cultural and Community Tourism Development spanning 30 years.

Koro founded the globally acclaimed ecotourism venture Footprints Waipoua, which generated local jobs and supported numer

CGO stands for Chief Gorse Officer. 

Koro, hails from the Hokianga, located on the West Coast of the Northland region. Koro has a background in Environmental, Cultural and Community Tourism Development spanning 30 years.

Koro founded the globally acclaimed ecotourism venture Footprints Waipoua, which generated local jobs and supported numerous other businesses in a region known for high unemployment.  In 2009, he was part of a team that facilitated the world’s first 'Union of Ancient Trees’ agreement, a project aimed at fostering meaningful connections between cultures, communities, and natural environments.   

 Koro, has a 19-year-old daughter who studied in South Korea in 2024 and has aspirations to study and work in the field of Science.   

Simon is our Chief Operations Officer. 

Simon is originally from Bath in the UK, but relocated to Aotearoa in 2006. He has two adult sons, one of whom is a lawyer and the other an engineer. 

Simon has extensive experience in project management including overseeing the PGF-funded essential oil extraction facility at Ngawha. A former Assistan

Simon is our Chief Operations Officer. 

Simon is originally from Bath in the UK, but relocated to Aotearoa in 2006. He has two adult sons, one of whom is a lawyer and the other an engineer. 

Simon has extensive experience in project management including overseeing the PGF-funded essential oil extraction facility at Ngawha. A former Assistant Prison Director, Simon led a forestry training initiative in collaboration with Crown Forestry and the Ministry for Primary Industries, which resulted in the planting of over one million trees and led to the creation of full-time jobs for former inmates.