CIAC clarifies stance on legal challenge presented by the Responsible Plastic Use Coalition

May 20, 2021

2021/05/20

Ottawa, ON, May 20, 2021 – The Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC) wishes to clarify that the association is not a participant in the Responsible Plastic Use Coalition (RPUC), nor the legal proceedings initiated by the Coalition. CIAC is a policy and advocacy organization and without mandate to initiate or participate in legal proceedings on behalf of its membership.

“We share RPUC’s disappointment with the Government of Canada’s May 12 decision to list all plastic manufactured items on Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA),” said Bob Masterson, President and CEO of the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada. “We believe that plastics belong in the economy and not in the environment. Nevertheless, we share RPUC’s belief that CEPA is the wrong tool to address concerns with post-consumer plastics. “ Read our statement here.

As an organization, CIAC remains intently focused on building an enabling policy environment for a circular economy for plastics. This includes an intense program of work with provincial governments coast-to-coast as they work to develop and modify Extended Producer Responsibility programs and implement other aspects of the jointly agreed Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Zero Plastic Waste Action Plan.