Canadian plastics, chemistry industries launch initiative for plastics packaging recovery

The Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA), Mississauga, Ontario, and the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC), Ottawa, Ontario, have announced an initiative to reuse, recycle or recover 100 percent of plastic packaging by 2040.

The groups say the targets underscore their members’ commitment to a future without plastic waste.

Representing the broad plastics value chain in Canada, CPIA and CIAC and their members announced the following waste reduction targets:           

• a new aspirational goal of 100 percent of plastics packaging being reused, recycled or recovered by 2040; and
• an aggressive interim goal of 100 percent of plastics packaging being recyclable or recoverable by 2030.

Carol Hochu, president and CEO of CPIA, says, “Plastics innovations are essential to increase living standards and improve overall sustainability via new products that design out waste, reduce food waste, support resource efficiency, conserve water and natural resources and reduce emissions. But it is a waste of precious resources for plastics to be used once and then landfilled.”

Achieving these goals will require significant investment across the value chain in new and upgraded infrastructure and improved packaging design, according to the associations. Success also will require widespread public participation in recycling and recovery programs along with changes to littering behavior.

“Industry has a role to play in designing materials and applications for greater recovery, reuse and recyclability, but addressing the issue of plastic waste will require actions from society as a whole and from all of us as individuals,” Bob Masterson, president and CEO of CIAC, says.

“Our members are committed to doing their part, working with governments and others, to significantly improve the recycling and recovery of postuse plastics packaging to complement existing innovations,” Masterson adds. “Supports for investments in new innovations such as chemical recycling will be essential to achieving these goals.”

These targets put the Canadian plastics industry in line with PlasticsEurope and the American Chemistry Council, who recently announced similar ambitions.

CPIA and CIAC say they are committed to “ensuring the plastics industry continues to be at the forefront of made-in-Canada solutions to the global issue of reducing the amount of plastics that goes to landfills.”

Since 1943, the CPIA has served as the national voice for and leader in plastics industry sustainability across Canada and beyond, representing the interests of the plastics value chain including resin and raw material suppliers, processors/converters, equipment suppliers, recyclers and brand owners.

The CIAC is the association for leaders in the chemistry sector in Canada, a $53 billion industry. The association represents more than 50 members and partners across the country.