Reclaimers joined brand owners, industry groups and other stakeholders to launch the Canada Plastics Pact, which will work to incorporate Ellen MacArthur Foundation-led recycling targets into Canada’s plastics sector.
The effort kicked off with more than 40 partner organizations, including reclaimers EFS-plastics and Merlin Plastics, chemical recycling firm Pyrowave, numerous brand owners, government agencies and others.
The organizations say they are “working towards four clear, actionable targets by 2025.” Those are to ensure an average of at least 30% recycled content by weight across all plastic packaging; ensure at least 50% of plastic packaging is recycled or composted; support efforts toward 100% of plastic packaging being designed for reuse, recyclability or compostability; and define a list of plastic packaging that is “problematic or unnecessary” and take measures to eliminate those materials.
The Canada pact is one of 10 similar Plastics Pact entities around the globe; nine of them are country-specific, and one is a regional pact in Europe. They are affiliated with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and its New Plastics Economy Global Commitment program, which sets out targets for waste reduction, recovery and more.
The U.S. Plastics Pact launched last year, with the same list of foundational goals as the Canadian effort. The U.S. initiative has further communicated plans to drive policy conversations at the national level.
In a release, British Columbia-based Merlin Plastics noted the company brings more than three decades of experience to the effort. Tony Moucachen, president of the company, said Merlin joined “so that we can constructively participate with like-minded leaders and work towards a circular economy thereby ensuring that packaging does not end up in our natural environment.” (Moucachen serves on the board of directors of the Association of Plastic Recyclers, which owns Resource Recycling, Inc., publisher of Plastics Recycling Update.)
“It is energizing when an organization brings together so many key players that are focused on creating a ‘win’ from an economic, social and environmental perspective,” said Moucachen. “We are excited and ready to help [Canada Plastics Pact] partners and others in the industry to meet their objectives to eliminate plastic packaging waste and pollution.”
