Page 32 - Plastics News March 2022

Canada Opens Consultation on Recycled Content Law for Plastic

of this plan is establishing recycled con-
tent standards, which will drive demand
for recycled plastics and help facilitate
the transition toward a circular plastics
economy. “Recycled content require-
ments would help to reduce the amount
of plastic waste that ends up in landfills
and the environment, while also de-
creasing greenhouse gas emissions. “To-
gether, we can achieve zero plastic waste
and keep our communities clean.” Can-
ada aims to achieve zero plastic waste
by 2030, with Canadian citizens cur-
rently discarding a total of around three
he Canadian Government has be- uct design while reducing greenhouse million tonnes of plastic a year. The
Tgun a consultation on a proposed gas emissions. It is part of Canada’s country’s government is working with
regulation to establish a minimum re- commitment to increasing the amount provinces and territories with the aim to
cycled content requirement for certain of recycled content in certain plastic make plastic producers responsible for
plastic items. Environment and Climate products and packaging produced in their waste. Earlier in December 20 it
Change Minister Steven Guilbeault the country to at least 50% by 2030. published draft regulations that would
launched the consultation recently and The consultation is open for all Cana- prohibit the use of some single-use plas-
if successfully implemented, the legisla- dians and stakeholders to comment on tics in the country, leaving them open to
tion would increase demand for recycled the proposed measures until March. The public comment. The proposed regula-
plastics and, in turn, prevent more plas- regulation is due to be published by the tions outline how Canada will ban the
tic from entering landfill and the envi- end of this year. Guilbeault said: “The manufacture, sale and import of certain
ronment. The initiative is also intended government is committed to achieving single-use plastic, including plastic cut-
to improve recycling systems and prod- zero plastic waste by 2030. “A key part lery, stir sticks, straws and six-pack rings.

Finland to Reduce Single - Use Plastic Cups and Food Packets

formation of solutions and business models plastic, measured in tonnes, will be lower
that could reduce consumption. Signato- by 2026 than it currently is. In addition,
ries to the agreement include the Envi- the plastic content of some products will
ronment Ministry, the Finnish Food and be eliminated entirely. Finnish Environ-
Drink Industries’ Federation, the Finnish ment and Climate Change Minister Emma
Hospitality Association Mara, the Finnish Kari said: “Reducing the use of single-use
Grocery Trade Association and the Finn- plastics has wide support from citizens and
ish Packaging Association. Under the EU companies. “It is great that these important
he Finnish Government is planning Directive on plastic waste, member states sectors now strongly participate in the work
Tto launch a voluntary agreement to must implement national measures to re- to reduce the consumption of plastics.“The
cut down on the country’s use of single- duce their plastic waste output between agreement offers the keys to finding flex-
use plastic cups and certain food packets. now and 2026. The Finnish green deal ible and new solutions to respond to the
The Green Deal agreement aims to develop aims to achieve a sustained decline in the plastics challenge.”If the agreement lacks
practical ways to fulfil the obligations set purchase of single-use cups and certain participation from businesses or its targets
by the European Union (EU) to reduce food packets made wholly or partly of plas- are not expected to be met, legislation to
the amount of plastic waste in the envi- tic. The government aims to ensure that reduce plastic waste is likely to be intro-
ronment. It is also intended to support the the total amount of packets made partly of duced instead.

32 PLASTICS NEWS March 2022