CANADIAN APPROACH TO PLASTICS 

AND PLASTIC POLLUTION

NIST Data and Harmonization to 

Improve the Circularity of Plastics 

Workshop

January 26, 2023
CONTEXT
MOVING TO CIRCULARITY

• Through the Canadian Council of Ministers of the 

Environment (CCME), Canada is working with provinces 

and territories toward a zero plastic waste future where 

plastics stay in the economy and out of the environment

• No single solution – Canada is implementing a 

comprehensive and evidence-based agenda

o Advances complementary actions across the plastics 

value chain and supports the waste hierarchy

o Addresses market challenges, strengthens systems 

and infrastructure, spurs innovation, enables 

sustainable behaviours, and tackles plastic pollution

• Multi-stakeholder approach to achieve change

o Everyone has a role to play to rethink how we make, 

use and manage plastics

Waste Management Hierarchy 
FEDERAL ZERO PLASTIC WASTE AGENDA

• Working with provinces and territories to implement the Canada-wide Strategy on Zero 

Plastic Waste and Action Plan

Canadian Council of Ministers of the 

Environment

• Measures, regulations, agreements to prevent plastic pollution and support the transition to 

circularity Policies and regulations

Greening our government • Reducing plastic waste from federal operations and promoting sustainable procurement

• Implementing Canada’s Plastics Science Agenda including conducting research and 

investing in science Advancing science

• Enabling innovative social and technological solutions for the sustainable management of 

plastics throughout their lifecycle Plastics innovation

• Amplifying education and awareness-raising initiatives, community solutions (e.g. 

demonstration and clean-up projects), advancing citizen science, and tackling ghost gear Mobilizing Canadians

• Working with governments and stakeholders to develop a legally-binding global agreement 

on plastic pollution and advancing international actions on plastic waste and pollution

Ocean Plastics Charter and international 

actions
Data and reporting initiatives

IMPORTANCE OF DATA FOR MOVING TOWARDS ZERO 

PLASTIC WASTE

5

• Data on plastic is crucial to building a 

circular economy

• Standardized, comparable data are needed 

to evaluating the effectiveness of measures 

to advance a circular plastics economy

• This data can be used to verify performance 

at the macro level such as tonnage 

collected, tonnage sorted and reprocessed

• Current sources of plastics data are 

inconsistent and difficult to compare as 

plastics is highly diffused across the 

economy

Government of Canada

• 2019 Report on Canadian Plastics Markets, Industry and 

Waste

• Statistics Canada pilot physical flow account for plastic 

material

• Canada Plastics Science Agenda

Provincial, territorial, municipal governments

• Litter audits, surveys and studies

• Research and studies on waste management, recycling 

systems

Civil society

• Shoreline cleanup data

Private sector

• Industry-sponsored research

• EPR reporting requirements
ZPW AGENDA: POLICIES AND REGULATIONS

6

MINIMUM RECYCLED

CONTENT 

REQUIREMENTS

RECYCLABILITY AND 

COMPOSTABILITY 

LABELLING RULES

FEDERAL PLASTICS 

REGISTRY 

PLASTIC

BOTTLES

• Requirement would have plastic 

packaging in Canada contain at 

least 50% recycled content by 

2030

• Government is currently 

reviewing feedback received 

during consultations in fall 2020, 

winter 2022

• Rules would require plastic 

packaging and single-use items be 

assessed for recyclability according 

to specific criteria before it could be 

labelled as recyclable

• Rules would also regulate the use 

of terms such as “compostable”, 

“degradable” or “biodegradable” in 

the labelling of plastic packaging 

and single-use items

• Government is currently reviewing 

feedback received during public 

comment period that ended in fall 

2022

• Registry would support provincial 

and territorial EPR efforts by 

requiring producers to report on 

plastics in the Canadian economy

• Government is currently reviewing 

feedback received during public 

comment period on July 

consultation paper

• Consideration being given to 

product categories, data points, 

reporting data, and open data and 

Confidential Business Information 

• Phased implementation approach 

would see reporting begin in 2025 

• The government is 

committed to 

implementing and 

enforcing a 

recycling target of 

90%

• Government is 

working with 

provinces and 

territories to 

implement and 

enforce an 

ambitious recycling 

target of 90 per 

cent by 2029 for 

plastic beverage 

bottles

SINGLE-USE

PLASTICS 

PROHIBITION 

REGULATIONS 

• Regulations finalized

• As of December 20, 2022, 

the manufacture and import 

for sale in Canada of 

checkout bags, cutlery, 

foodservice ware, stir sticks 

and straws (i.e., straight 

straws), as defined in the 

Regulations, will be 

prohibited.

• Prohibition on manufacture, 

import and sale for export 

will come into force on 

December 20, 2025

A regulation in two parts will help mobilize the supply chain, increase supply of recycled 

resin, divert more plastics from landfills and the environment, and strengthen the path 

to a more circular economy

• Labelling targets inputs to recycling stream (supply) • Recycled content requirements drive production of outputs (demand)

Publication of proposed regulations in the Canada Gazette, Part I targeted before the 

end of 2023
PROPOSED RECYCLED CONTENT & LABELLING FOR 

PLASTIC PRODUCTS REGULATIONS

• Recycled Content Requirements

o Minimum requirements would reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills, incinerators and the 

environment, while also decreasing greenhouse gas emissions associated the with production of virgin plastic 

resins

o Strengthening demand for recycled plastic could have cascading positive impacts across the entire recycling 

chain, such as spurring investment in recycling infrastructure, and incentivize design for recyclability

o Regulations are currently under development following the publication of a Notice of Intent and Technical 

Issues Paper in February 2022 

• Labelling Requirements

o Proposed scope intended to focus on product categories that Canadians are asked to prepare for recycling 

(e.g., via sorting, separating, cleaning)

o Packaging and single-use plastics are most common plastics collected from Canadians

Choose a 

compliance 

mechanism

Assess an item’s 

recyclability

Keep records and 

disclose on 

request

Proposed recyclability 

assessment process

Proposed RC 

product scope

Beverage 

containers

Bottles*

Non-bottle rigid 

containers and 

trays*

Foam packaging*

Film and flexible 

plastic 

packaging*

Garbage bags

Waste bins

* Excludes 

primary food 

packaging
LABELING RULES FOR COMPOSTABILITY

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Proposed rules for compostability labelling

• Label with terms like “compostable”, 

“biodegradable”, “degradable” or like terms, only in 

accordance with regulations

• Third-party standards provide assurance that 

compostable plastics have been designed to 

biodegrade in the conditions of an industrial 

composting facility

• Certification programs could include: • BNQ (certifies to CAN/BNQ 0017-088) • BPI (certifies to ASTM D6400 and ASTM D6868) • Maintain records and disclose certification on 

request

• Bioplastics offers potential upstream environmental benefits such as • carbon savings over fossil-based plastics and • the potential to contribute to Canada’s bio-economy, • Bioplastics are currently problematic to manage at their end of life, with 

significant variation in performance along with inconsistent labelling

• Standards for anaerobic digestion or home composting do not currently 

exist in North America • Compostable plastics often screened out by organics processing facilities 

and sent to landfill, due to • confusion and contamination with other plastics (for example, 

conventional and other types of degradable plastics), and • generally longer biodegradation times than food and yard waste

• Labelling rules would seek to • increase diversion of organic waste from landfills and improve 

outcomes in organic waste and recycling systems, and • reduce public and industry confusion surrounding terms such as 

“compostable” and “biodegradable”
MEASURING AND VERIFYING RECYCLED CONTENT 

ROLE OF STANDARDS

• Currently no widely-applicable analytical methods for determining the amount of recycled content 

in plastic products, and no known methods under development that could be applied to all plastic 

resins and recycling processes. 

• Current verification methods require chain of custody tracking of plastics from waste received at the 

sorting facility (MRF) to the recycler, converter, and brand owner. 

• Available certification schemes were analyzed in a 2021 report by Eunomia commissioned by ECCC 

and the Standards Council of Canada. The report found significant differences between 

measurement methods in existing schemes.

• ECCC provided funding support to the standard developer BNQ to develop a recycled content 

measurement and verification standard in Canada. Standard expected to be published summer 2023.

• ECCC considering the role of standards, certifications and verification methods in recycled content 

requirements (proposed recycled content & labeling regulations).

• May be a need for additional standards and measurement methods in future to support recycled 

content in plastics.

Eunomia. 2021. A Comparative Assessment of Standards and Certification Schemes for Verifying Recycled Content in Plastic Products
WHAT WE HEARD

• Recycled Content Requirements

o Quantity and quality of recycled resin is a major concern for producers, particularly food grade resin

o Phased-in approach for products and requirements between now and 2030 (and beyond) preferred 

o Level of tracking and ability to verify could create a significant administrative burden for regulatees

o Trade barriers could be created by restricting the Canadian market for exporting countries 

• Labelling Requirements

o Need for harmonization of labelling across regions within Canada and North America

o Need for clarity on compliance mechanisms

o Need for robust enforcement, label designs, treatment of compostable plastics

o Need for clarity on definition of reliable end market 

o Concerns about implementation timeline, regional breakdown proposed 

o Need for alignment with P/T EPR programs 
ESTABLISHMENT OF A FEDERAL PLASTICS 

REGISTRY FOR PLASTIC PRODUCTS

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• The Government of Canada has committed to supporting provincial and territorial 

extended producer responsibility (EPR) efforts by establishing a federal plastics 

registry and requiring producers to report annually on plastics in the Canadian 

economy

• EPR is a policy approach in which a producer’s responsibility, physical and/or 

financial, for a product is extended to the post-consumer stage of a product’s life 

cycle. 

• A federal plastics registry will support adoption of EPR rules in Canada that are 

consistent, comprehensive and transparent and improve the efficiency and 

effectiveness of EPR as it is practiced in Canada
WHY IS THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA INTERESTED 

IN EPR? 

12

• EPR is crucial in the move towards a circular economy for plastics

• Work with provinces and territories to advance EPR across Canada that is:

• Consistent: rules and definitions need to be consistent across jurisdictions

• Comprehensive: extend EPR to all major sectors of the economy that generate large 

amounts of plastic waste.

• Transparent: companies are made responsible for meeting outcomes, but they can decide 

how to meet those outcomes

• The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment has developed guidance 

to facilitate consistent EPR 

• Key performance indicators include rates of diversion, repair, remanufacture and 

refurbishment; and recycling

• Data inputs allow for the calculation of the KPIs (e.g., plastics in products supplied to the 

market and plastics collected for diversion)
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE LIMITATIONS IN CURRENT 

EPR PROGRAMS? 

13

Difficult or impossible to 

measure performance

• Performance data 

generated from EPR

programs can be 

difficult or impossible 

to accurately compare 

between jurisdictions 

and across product 

categories. 

Lack of baseline data for 

future EPR policies

• Lack of baseline data 

can complicate and 

lengthen the time 

needed to develop 

EPR policies for 

different categories of 

plastic products. 

Data can be difficult to 

access

• EPR data is typically 

only accessible in 

annual reports 

published by producer 

responsibility 

organizations

• No central source for 

EPR data across 

Canada

Lack of accurate 

verification and public 

reporting

• EPR data that is 

verifiable and 

publically reported 

increases 

transparency and 

usability of data for 

stakeholders and 

Canadians
OBJECTIVES & BENEFITS OF A FEDERAL PLASTICS 

REGISTRY 

Open Data

By housing the 

data in a single 

repository, 

Canadians will be 

able to access 

data related to 

plastic waste 

diversion more 

easily

Comparable 

Information: 

Data would be 

comparable across 

jurisdictions and 

product categories, 

which will support 

effective 

performance 

measurement of 

EPR

Baseline for 

future EPR

Provinces and 

territories will 

have a better 

understanding of 

sectors that place 

plastics on the 

market, which will 

facilitate the 

expansion of EPR

into new sectors

Supports 

Compliance 

Provinces and 

territories will have 

access to data to 

support 

enforcement and 

compliance 

promotion 

activities, to 

contribute to fairer 

EPR

Encourage 

Investment

Businesses along 

the plastics value 

chain will be 

better placed to 

make investment 

decisions that will 

improve the 

management of 

plastics
MAKING DATA OPEN AND TRANSPARENT

• Open data means structured data that is machine-readable, freely transparent used and 

built on without restrictions.

• Data sets should be easily compared to one another, having the same format, 

definitions, structuring, manipulation, use and management principles.

• Canadians should be able to access data related to EPR and plastics to make informed 

decisions. 

• Considering making data received from producers open by default on the reporting 

platform

• Canadians could download or visualize the data collected via the registry using various 

data filters
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

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• Data points to be collected

• Plastics placed on the market

• Plastics collected for diversion

• Plastics successfully reused 

• Plastics successfully repaired, remanufactured, or refurbished

• Plastics successfully recycled

• Plastics incinerated for energy recovery

• Plastics imported or exported 

• Reporter hierarchy

Producer/PRO would 

collect the required 

data points

Producer would 

register on the 

reporting platform

Producer would identify 

their PRO on the 

reporting platform

Producer/PRO would 

submit data into the 

reporting platform on 

an annual basis

Data would be 

analyzed and 

aggregated by ECCC 

Data would be 

published by 

ECCC
REGULATIONS: NEXT STEPS 

• Recycled Content and Labelling for Plastic Products Regulations 

o The Government intends to publish the proposed regulatory framework for recycled content requirements and labelling 

rules and for public comment in spring 2023. 

o Draft regulations are targeted for publication in Canada Gazette, Part I before the end of 2023, followed by another public 

comment period 

• Federal Plastics Registry 

o Draft instrument also to be published in Canada Gazette, Part I in before the end of 2023, followed by another public 

comment period 

• Government looking to industry to advance path forward for a circular plastics 

economy 

• Encourages ongoing, active engagement 
GLOBAL AGREEMENT

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• Canada is working with governments and other stakeholders to develop an ambitious 

legally binding global agreement to end plastic pollution, pursuant to United Nations 

Environment Assembly resolution 5/14

• Through the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), the global community will 

advance an agreement that addresses the full lifecycle of plastics, including provisions to:

o Promote sustainable consumption and production

o Develop and implement national action plans

o Enable a circular economy 

o Advance science and increase knowledge through awareness raising, education and 

information exchange

• Ongoing engagement and discussion to inform Canada’s voice in negotiating an ambitious 

global treaty on plastic

• Canada recently joined the High-Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution

• Agreement to be developed by 2024 via 5 negotiation meetings 
351 St. Joseph Boulevard

Gatineau, QC

K1A 0H3

plastiques-plastics@ec.gc.ca

Contact

Tracey Spack, Director

Plastics Regulatory Affairs Division

Environment and Climate Change 

Canada

CONTACT