The Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC) and the Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA) support the G7 Marine Plastics Litter Innovation Challenge, which was announced by the Federal Government at the G7 Environment, Oceans and Energy Ministers meeting in Halifax September 20.

The goal of the G7 Innovation Challenge is to stimulate innovations, raise awareness of how to address marine plastic litter or facilitate improvements to the management of plastic wastes in developing countries. This challenge is to facilitate the Ocean Plastics Charter that was presented by the Canadian Federal Government and signed by five countries last summer at the G7 Summit in Charlevoix, Quebec.

On June 4, CPIA and CIAC announced its members had committed to goals of 100 per cent of plastics packaging being recyclable or recoverable by 2030 and 100 per cent of plastics packaging being reused, recycled, or recovered by 2040.

“We believe that coordinated international action is essential to bringing solutions to the problem of marine litter, especially for nations that are key contributors and need urgent assistance to improve their waste management. Industry has made ambitious commitments and is taking global and local action to be part of the solution,” said Carol Hochu, President and CEO of CPIA.

“Plastics deliver significant societal benefits and are central to our modern and sustainable future. This includes lighter materials for vehicles to increase fuel efficiency, packaging to prevent food waste and materials for renewable energy like wind turbines. But plastic and other litter does not belong in our waterways or environment,” said Bob Masterson, President and CEO of CIAC. “We look forward to working with Minister McKenna and other stakeholder partners to develop innovations and technologies to tackle the urgent global issue of marine litter together.”