Canadian Plastics and Chemistry industries set ambitious targets to re-use, recycle or recover 100% of plastics packaging by 2040

In advance of World Environment Day, Tuesday June 5, the Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA) and the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC) announced ambitious targets that underscore their members' commitment to a future without plastic waste.

Representing the broad plastics value chain in Canada, CPIA and CIAC and their members announced the following waste reduction targets:  
• A new aspirational goal of 100 per cent of plastics packaging being re-used, recycled, or recovered by 2040. 
• An aggressive interim goal of 100 per cent of plastics packaging being recyclable or recoverable by 2030.

"Plastics innovations are essential to increase living standards and improve overall sustainability via new products that design out waste, reduce food waste, support resource efficiency, conserve water and natural resources and reduce emissions. But it is a waste of precious resources for plastics to be used once and then landfilled," said Carol Hochu, President and CEO of CPIA.

Achieving these goals will require significant investment across the value chain in new and upgraded infrastructure and improved packaging design. Success will also require widespread public participation in recycling and recovery programs along with changes to littering behaviour. 

"Industry has a role to play in designing materials and applications for greater recovery, reuse and recyclability, but addressing the issue of plastic waste will require actions from society as a whole and from all of us as individuals," said Bob Masterson, President and CEO of CIAC. 

"Our members are committed to doing their part, working with governments and others, to significantly improve the recycling and recovery of post-use plastics packaging to complement existing innovations. Supports for investments in new innovations such as chemical recycling will be essential to achieving these goals."
These aggressive targets put the Canadian plastics industry in line with PlasticsEurope and the American Chemistry Council, who recently announced similar ambitions.

CPIA and CIAC are committed to ensuring our industry continues to be at the forefront of made-in-Canada solutions to the global issue of reducing the amount of plastics that goes to landfills. 

Since 1943, the Canadian Plastics Industry Association has served as the national voice for and leader in plastics industry sustainability across Canada and beyond, representing the interests of the plastics value chain including resin and raw material suppliers, processors/converters, equipment suppliers, recyclers and brand owners.

The Chemistry Industry Association of Canada is the Association for leaders in the chemistry sector in Canada; a $53 billion industry. The Association represents more than 50 members and partners across the country. Members of CIAC are signatories to Responsible Care - the Association's UN-recognized sustainability initiative.