New Zealand Merino Company chief executive John Brakenridge believes plastic pollution has "brought the world to a crossroad'' and New Zealand has an opportunity to take a global leadership position in finding the solution.
"Seventy percent of the world's clothing is made from plastic and it is one of the leading contributors to global plastic pollution.
"New Zealand is perfectly positioned to find natural solutions to this growing problem, be it wool, flax or hemp products.
"For our health and that of the planet, we have to change our relationship and dependence on plastic. It is the collective responsibility of individuals, business and governments to change our behaviours."
The whole life-cycle of products needed to be looked at and a greater emphasis placed on what happened once consumers finished with them, he said.
