CIAC and CPIA aligned with the key focus areas of CCME’s Action Plan on Zero Plastic Waste

The Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC) and the Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA) welcome the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment’s (CCME) announcement for the next steps for the Strategy for Zero Plastic Waste today.

CCME announced the first phase for the Canada-Wide Action Plan on Zero Plastic Waste will be focusing on product design, single-use plastics, collection system, markets and recycling capacity. CIAC and CPIA are aligned with the clear goals and the action plan that recognizes the distinct contributions required by all components of society. We also support extended producer responsibility to manage plastic waste but within a broader system that addresses all waste resources.

Achieving these goals will require significant investment across the value chain in new and upgraded infrastructure and innovation in new forms of recycling, such as chemical recycling and other transformative technologies that will make plastics infinitely recyclable. Success will also require widespread public participation in recycling and recovery programs.

“Many of our members are already making great strides to tackle plastic waste,” said Bob Masterson, President and CEO of CIAC. “This includes designing materials and applications for durability, reuse and recyclability. But each of us in society will have a role to play in solving this global issue. We are pleased to see that the Canada-Wide Action Plan on Zero Plastic Waste is taking a holistic approach including life-cycle thinking to improve the understanding of plastics’ benefits and to enable more informed decisions when it comes to solutions to tackle plastic waste.”

“A high level of collaboration between governments and industry is required to achieve the full benefits of the Strategy for Zero Plastic Waste strategy” said Carol Hochu, President and CEO of CPIA. “We look forward to working with all levels of government including assistance in shaping Phase 2 of the plan.”

In 2018, CIAC, CPIA and their members, announced ambitious waste reduction targets for the extended plastics value chain in Canada:

  • A new aspirational goal of 100 per cent of plastics packaging being reused, recycled, or recovered by 2040.
  • An aggressive interim goal of 100 per cent of plastics packaging being recyclable or recoverable by 2030.