On January 27, the Canada Plastics Pact launched with more than 40 partners including Metro Vancouver and the National Zero Waste Council. The Canada Plastics Pact is a new initiative to accelerate a circular plastics economy, mobilizing leaders from across the plastics value chain behind a common vision and ambitious set of targets to address plastic packaging waste at the source.
“For decades, Canada’s local governments have been doing their utmost to manage the growing amount of plastic waste. Though recycling is important, we need more upstream solutions to prevent plastic from becoming waste in the first place,” said Director Froese, Metro Vancouver Board of Directors and Chair, Metro Vancouver Zero Waste Committee. “We are pleased to be the first local government to engage with the Canada Plastics Pact and look forward to supporting our fellow partners and signatories to advance a circular economy for plastic for the benefit of our environment, climate and economy.”
Canada Plastic Pact partners will work together to rethink the way they design, use, and reuse plastics. The goal is to collectively make progress towards four clear, actionable targets by 2025:
- Defining a list of plastic packaging that is to be designated as problematic or unnecessary and taking measures to eliminate it.
- Supporting efforts towards 100% of plastic packaging being designed to be reusable, recyclable or compostable.
- Undertaking ambitious actions to ensure that at least 50% of plastic packaging is effectively recycled or composted.
- Ensuring an average of at least 30% recycled content across all plastic packaging.
“The National Zero Waste Council is proud to have played a role in the development of the Canada Plastics Pact, which represents a timely opportunity for Canada to turn the rising tide of plastic pollution,” said Malcolm Brodie, Chair, National Zero Waste Council. “Canada has a major role to play in the worldwide effort to advance a circular economy for plastics and we look forward to collaborating with stakeholders and leaders across the value chain to make plastic pollution a thing of the past.”
The Global Plastics Pact is led by the UK-based Ellen MacArthur Foundation which is working to create a circular economy for plastics worldwide. More information and a full list of partners can be found at plasticspact.ca.
