For more than half a century, the bright red RSA poppy has been a symbol of remembrance.
But this year, people may start to notice something a little bit different as the Royal New Zealand RSA has introduced a new biodegradable design.
Paeroa RSA president John Hallett and assistant welfare officer Carol Linton told The Profile the new poppies were manufactured in Kent, England.
Its brand new design features a green stem, red poppy with a bit of leaf at the 11 o’clock position, a reference to Armistice Day, and a black centre with the words poppy appeal.
It’s also got a different texture – that’s because the new design is made from paper.
It uses a blend of renewable fibres, which includes materials recovered from the waste generated in the production of coffee cups, and is entirely biodegradable.
Instead of using a pin, like the former poppy, the new design comes with a sturdy adhesive label on the back.
“Ecologically and environmentally it’s a good idea,” Carol said.
However, the process of peeling and sticking the poppy and people leaving it on their clothes was something Carol was unsure about.
“How it’s going to work and how it will impact on the public, I have no idea,” she said.
The former plastic poppies used to have pins placed into them by volunteers.
“We sat there rigorously putting the pins in,” she said, and one time they had to take the pins out again after the poppy appeal in case they rusted.
One good thing about the new poppies was their eco-friendly nature, she said.
“If people buy them and stick them up there on the graves, they’re just going to disintegrate and become part of the environment. Whereas those little bits of plastic float around forever.”
While the new poppies were now in circulation, John and Carol said the former poppies were also placed out first at various locations for the Poppy Appeal day on April 17.
John said it was important for people to understand that any money given for the poppies did not go to the RSA as such, it went to a separate trust to give assistance to veterans.
“We have veterans from Iraq, Afghanistan, East Timor, Vietnam… But there’s also people who’ve served in the forces in New Zealand. They’re also considered veterans. And we have funds to help them if they need it. We also look after their families as well,” he said.
“This money doesn’t come into the RSA as an RSA income. It’s kept completely separate.”
While the president believed the new poppies were “less appealing aesthetically”, they also had some real positives.
“They’re not as flash as the old ones, that is for sure. But they are a fraction of the price.
“So that means more money, when people give money, there’s more money [that] goes to the veterans, not for making the poppies, of course.”
By DAVIDDA HIKATANGATA
