Alexei Volkov
Canada has been taking steps to reduce plastic waste and pollution. In December 2022, the country began implementing a ban on the import and manufacture of single-use plastic checkout bags, with a prohibition on their sale coming into force in December 2023. This is part of a broader strategy to achieve zero plastic waste by 2030, which includes improving plastic recovery and recycling. The ban has faced legal challenges from the plastics industry, but the government argues that it is crucial to address the environmental threat of plastic pollution. This move is expected to eliminate a significant amount of plastic waste and pollution over the next decade.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of ban | December 20, 2022 |
| Items banned | Single-use plastic checkout bags, cutlery, food service ware, stir sticks, straws, ring carriers |
| Implementation timeline | Prohibition on import and manufacture of certain items began on December 20, 2022; prohibition on sale of these items to come into force in December 2023; prohibition on sale of ring carriers and flexible straws packaged with beverage containers to come into force in June 2024 |
| Impact | Elimination of over 1.3 million tonnes of hard-to-recycle plastic waste and more than 22,000 tonnes of plastic pollution over the next decade |
| Legal challenges | Yes, by the plastics industry |
| Current status of legal challenges | The federal government has argued that the legal challenge is now "moot" and will have no "practical effect" |
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What You'll Learn
Canada's ban on single-use plastic bags
Canada has taken a significant step towards mitigating the threat of plastic pollution to its marine environment and aquatic ecosystems by banning certain single-use plastics. The ban, which came into effect in December 2022, prohibits the manufacture, import, and sale of specific single-use plastic items, including checkout bags, cutlery, food service ware, stir sticks, and straws. The sale prohibition for these items will be enforced in December 2023.
The second phase of the ban, which will begin in June 2023, will prohibit the manufacture and import of ring carriers, with their sale prohibited in June 2024. This phase also includes a ban on the sale of flexible straws packaged with beverage containers. By the end of 2025, the government will prohibit the manufacture and import of all six categories of single-use plastics for export, making Canada the first among its peer jurisdictions to implement such a comprehensive ban.
The ban is expected to eliminate over 1.3 million tonnes of hard-to-recycle plastic waste and more than 22,000 tonnes of plastic pollution over the next decade. The government is committed to working with provinces, territories, and industries to achieve its zero plastic waste goal. They are also developing regulations to increase recycled content in plastic packaging and establish clear rules for labelling recyclable and compostable plastics.
While some provinces and businesses have already implemented plastic bag bans and offered reusable alternatives, the federal ban has faced legal challenges from the plastics industry. Major plastic manufacturers have argued that the government did not follow the proper steps to list plastic products as toxic. However, the government maintains that plastic pollution is a pressing environmental threat, and the ban is necessary to protect nature, wildlife, and human health.
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Phased implementation of the ban
Canada's ban on certain harmful single-use plastics started in December 2022, with the prohibition on the import and manufacture of single-use plastic checkout bags, cutlery, food service ware made from problematic plastics, stir sticks, and straws. The second phase of the ban, which began in June 2023, included the prohibition on the manufacture and import of ring carriers. The sale of these items will be prohibited in December 2023 and June 2024, respectively. By June 2024, the sale of flexible straws packaged with beverage containers will also be prohibited.
The phased implementation of the ban is designed to give businesses time to transition to sustainable and affordable alternatives. Some companies had already taken steps to reduce their use of single-use plastics before the ban was announced. For example, Sobeys removed plastic checkout bags from its stores in 2020, followed by Walmart in April 2022, and Loblaw committed to banning plastic bags by spring 2023. Many fast-food outlets have also replaced plastic straws with paper versions.
The Government of Canada is working towards its zero-plastic waste goal by 2030. The ban on single-use plastics is expected to eliminate over 1.3 million tonnes of hard-to-recycle plastic waste and more than 22,000 tonnes of plastic pollution over the next decade. The government is also developing regulations to increase the recycled content in plastic packaging and establish clear rules for labelling recyclable and compostable plastics.
While the ban is a significant step towards mitigating plastic pollution, some believe that more needs to be done to address the issue. Environmental groups have called for expanding the bans and supporting the reuse of materials. Takeout coffee cups, condiment packets, and plastic pouches that cannot be recycled or reused are mentioned as possible additional items to include in the ban.
The plastics industry has challenged the federal government's ban on single-use plastics in court, arguing that the government did not follow the proper steps to list plastic products as toxic. However, the federal government maintains that it is empowered to regulate plastic waste due to its environmental impact. A judge is expected to decide by the end of 2023 whether Ottawa was justified in listing plastic products as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.
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Industry pushback and legal challenges
Canada's ban on single-use plastics, which includes plastic shopping bags, has faced opposition and legal challenges from industry groups and plastic manufacturers. The ban, which came into effect in December 2022, prohibits the manufacture, import, and sale of single-use plastic checkout bags, among other plastic items. While many businesses and retailers have voluntarily phased out single-use plastic bags, offering incentives for customers to bring their own bags, industry coalitions have challenged the ban.
One of the primary arguments against the ban is the question of legal authority. Craig Foster, a spokesperson for the plastic bag association, stated that the challenge is not about the environmental impact of plastic bags but about whether cities and provinces have the legal authority to implement such bans. This debate over jurisdiction has played out across North America, with industry coalitions challenging similar bans in various cities, states, and provinces. In Toronto, for instance, the association filed a challenge in 2012, but the city reversed the decision before the case could be heard.
The plastics industry has also launched legal challenges against the ban itself and the government's listing of plastic manufactured items as "toxic." The coalition argues that plastics are not inherently toxic and that plastic pollution is a result of human behaviour and waste management issues rather than the product itself. This challenge to the listing is crucial, as it forms the legal basis for the ban. The federal government has vowed to fight back against these challenges, appealing the initial decision in favour of the industry coalition.
The transition away from single-use plastics has posed challenges for businesses, particularly in finding sustainable and affordable alternatives. Additionally, the ban has added financial strain to certain industries, such as restaurants, which are still recovering from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, many provinces, such as Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, have successfully implemented plastic bag bans, and major retailers like Loblaw and Sobeys have made significant progress in phasing out single-use plastic bags.
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Alternatives to single-use plastics
Canada has taken a significant step towards mitigating the harmful impacts of plastic pollution on nature and wildlife by banning certain single-use plastics. This ban is expected to eliminate over 1.3 million tonnes of hard-to-recycle plastic waste and more than 22,000 tonnes of plastic pollution over the next decade.
The ban includes the manufacture, import, and sale of single-use plastic checkout bags, cutlery, food service ware made from problematic plastics, stir sticks, straws, and ring carriers. The Government of Canada is also working towards a 90% collection target for recycling plastic beverage bottles and developing regulations for certain plastic packaging to contain at least 50% recycled content.
With this information in mind, here are some alternatives to single-use plastics:
- Reusable bags: Instead of single-use plastic bags, opt for reusable bags such as totes or grocery bags. Some stores, like Loblaw, offer reusable bags at checkout lanes.
- Reusable containers: Bring your own containers for takeout or when buying fresh produce. Glass containers, stainless steel lunch boxes, and mason jars are great alternatives to single-use plastic containers.
- Reusable cups and bottles: Avoid single-use plastic cups and bottles by bringing your own reusable cup, bottle, or mason jar. Many companies, including Starbucks and Dunkin, allow you to use your own cup or bottle.
- Reusable straws: Sustainable straws made from bamboo, metal, or plant-based materials like agar derived from red algae and seaweed are excellent alternatives to plastic straws. Loliware, for instance, offers straws that mimic the texture of plastic when wet and are edible.
- Reusable utensils: Carry your own reusable utensils instead of using single-use plastic cutlery, especially when ordering takeout.
- Reusable sandwich bags: Switch to reusable sandwich bags instead of constantly disposing of plastic ones. They are cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and often come in cute designs.
- Eco-friendly alternatives: Choose products with eco-friendly and compostable packaging. For example, cardboard versions of plastic ring carriers or fiber-based alternatives like Footprint's cardboard product with a long shelf life, which is biodegradable, compostable, and microwave-safe.
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Canada's goal of zero plastic waste by 2030
Canada has taken a significant step toward achieving its goal of zero plastic waste by 2030 by implementing a ban on certain harmful single-use plastics. The ban, which began in December 2022, prohibits the import and manufacture of single-use plastic checkout bags, cutlery, food service ware, stir sticks, and straws. The sale of these items will be banned in December 2023. This is expected to eliminate over 1.3 million tonnes of hard-to-recycle plastic waste and more than 22,000 tonnes of plastic pollution, equivalent to over one million full garbage bags.
The Government of Canada is committed to addressing plastic pollution and protecting biodiversity, both domestically and internationally. The ban on single-use plastics is a crucial step in mitigating the threat that plastic pollution poses to marine environments and aquatic ecosystems. The government has also invested over $5 million in projects focused on education, awareness-raising, community science, and clean-ups. Additionally, $3 million has been invested in sector-based solutions to build a circular plastics economy, with an additional $2 million going towards 14 new Canadian-led plastic reduction initiatives.
Canada's Zero Plastic Waste Agenda includes eliminating the unnecessary use of single-use plastics in government operations, meetings, and events, and purchasing more sustainable plastic products that can be reused, repaired, or repurposed. The government aims to divert at least 75% of plastic waste from federal operations by 2030. They are also working with provinces and territories to ensure that producers, not taxpayers, are responsible for managing their plastic waste.
The Canadian Plastics Innovation Challenges (CPIC) is another initiative that incentivizes small and medium-sized enterprises to develop technology to address plastic waste. The government is also developing regulations to require certain plastic packaging to contain at least 50% recycled content and to establish clear rules for labelling recyclable and compostable plastics. Furthermore, they are creating a plastic registry to hold plastic producers accountable for their waste.
Canada's comprehensive approach to addressing plastic waste and pollution aims to achieve the goal of zero plastic waste by 2030, protecting the environment and reducing waste through a circular economy.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Canada banned the manufacture, import, and sale of single-use plastic checkout bags, cutlery, food service ware, stir sticks, and straws. The ban came into effect in December 2022.
The Government of Canada aims to reduce plastic waste and protect wildlife. A 2020 scientific assessment of plastic pollution found that plastic pollutes rivers, lakes, and oceans, harming wildlife and generating microplastics in the water we use and drink.
Single-use plastic flexible straws are excluded from the ban under certain conditions, so people who need them still have access.
The ban is expected to eliminate over 1.3 million tonnes of hard-to-recycle plastic waste and more than 22,000 tonnes of plastic pollution over the next decade. It is a significant step towards Canada's goal of zero plastic waste by 2030.
