Tom Branna, Chief Content Officer01.15.24
Canada’s aggressive Zero Plastic Waste Agenda will impact marketers and suppliers in the fast-moving consumer goods industry (FMCG)—including chemical specialties, according to Simon Kinsman, director of regulatory affairs, Canadian Consumer Specialty Products Association (CCSPA).
Speaking at the Cleaning Products Division during the HCPA annual meeting last month, Kinsman detailed the four pillars of the program:
• Single Use Plastics Ban. Primarily aimed at the food industry, six categories of single-use plastics were banned in 2022, more categories are expected to be added. A three-year phased implementation started in 2022.
• Mandatory Labelling Rules: All consumer packaging labelled “recyclable”/“not recyclable” by 2030. Recyclability will be based on aspirational (80%) thresholds for collection, recycling and reuse.
• Minimum Recycled Content. 60% in rigid, up to 50% in flexible packaging by 2030. There are exemptions for workplace chemicals and biocides; and reduced requirements (40%/30%) for other specialty products.
• Federal Plastics Registry. Mandatory reporting of plastics supplied to Canadian market, starting in 2025. It is intended to capture data on supply and outcomes for all plastics in Canada.
“These are very ambitious goals, I wish I had better news for you,” admitted Kinsman.
Draft regulations are due this quarter. They may be delayed, but the government is determined to reach 50% minimum recycled content, he explained, adding that the Mobius Loop will be eliminated on plastic, steel and cardboard.
According to Kinsman, total EPR program costs, per resident are $20 for packaging and $30 for hazardous products.
For context, just four US states—California, Colorado, Maine and Oregon—have EPR laws for product packaging—although industry experts expect more EPR proposals in 2024.
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Speaking at the Cleaning Products Division during the HCPA annual meeting last month, Kinsman detailed the four pillars of the program:
• Single Use Plastics Ban. Primarily aimed at the food industry, six categories of single-use plastics were banned in 2022, more categories are expected to be added. A three-year phased implementation started in 2022.
• Mandatory Labelling Rules: All consumer packaging labelled “recyclable”/“not recyclable” by 2030. Recyclability will be based on aspirational (80%) thresholds for collection, recycling and reuse.
• Minimum Recycled Content. 60% in rigid, up to 50% in flexible packaging by 2030. There are exemptions for workplace chemicals and biocides; and reduced requirements (40%/30%) for other specialty products.
• Federal Plastics Registry. Mandatory reporting of plastics supplied to Canadian market, starting in 2025. It is intended to capture data on supply and outcomes for all plastics in Canada.
“These are very ambitious goals, I wish I had better news for you,” admitted Kinsman.
Draft regulations are due this quarter. They may be delayed, but the government is determined to reach 50% minimum recycled content, he explained, adding that the Mobius Loop will be eliminated on plastic, steel and cardboard.
Extended Producer Responsibility
Kinsman had relatively good news on extended producer responsibility (EPR). He noted that more than 98% of Canada has EPR programs in place for packaging and hazardous products. All major provinces will have implemented fully producer-funded and producer-operated EPR programs by 2025.According to Kinsman, total EPR program costs, per resident are $20 for packaging and $30 for hazardous products.
For context, just four US states—California, Colorado, Maine and Oregon—have EPR laws for product packaging—although industry experts expect more EPR proposals in 2024.
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