All we are saying is give EPR a chance! How the right policies will help deliver circularity in Canada and abroad

The United Nations Environment Programme’s Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) recently convened in Ottawa to advance its work on a legally binding global treaty on plastic pollution, with extended producer responsibility, or EPR, emerging as an important step.

Several jurisdictions, including Canada, have turned to EPR, in light of the urgent need to address the environmental impacts of plastic waste. From Europe to Asia, EPR policies are gaining traction?? for incentivizing sustainable production practices like product design with recyclability in mind, reducing waste and leakage to the environment, and promoting a circular economy.

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When responsibly managed, plastic products are sustainable solutions for countless industries:? they make buildings more energy efficient; they make lightweight, low emission and electric vehicles possible; and durable and lightweight plastic food packaging keeps food fresher for longer. ?However, they should not be discarded to the environment after we use them, but rather kept in the economy so they ca be used over and over. ?This is where EPR comes in.

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Canada has been championing extended producer responsibility models for decades. To step back a little, EPR is a system where producers pay for, manage, and operate the recycling system (paper, metals, electronics, plastics, etc.) of a specific jurisdiction based on targets for recovery and recycling rates set by jurisdictional governments. For plastics producers, this includes everything from collection, sorting, and processing materials to finding and expanding markets for recycled plastics. This model incentivizes manufacturers to design products with end-of-life considerations in mind, and encourages the adoption of sustainable materials, recycling technologies, and waste reduction strategies.

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British Columbia, where EPR has been implemented for years, has the highest rate of plastics recycling in Canada (close to 50 per cent) compared to nine per cent in other jurisdictions. New Brunswick, Alberta, Yukon, Quebec, and Ontario are all in various stages of implementing EPR. Once in place, these will provide Canadian plastics producers with access to the post-use plastics feedstock needed to position Canada and its provinces as plastics recycling leaders. While we are on the right track, we know we can do better.

As we look to deliver a global treaty on plastic pollution, other jurisdictions can benefit from the experience of Canada, Europe and Asia, particularly those in developing economies and the global South. The Chemistry Industry Association of Canada has been working with its global partners at INC to encourage negotiators to recognize EPR as a key element to enhance recyclability and promote safe and environmentally sound management of plastic products throughout their lifecycle and across international supply chains.

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As countries introduce or increase their plastic recycling targets, they will need supporting, effective, and workable EPR systems that embrace all materials. And as momentum builds for stronger EPR approaches worldwide, collaboration between governments, industry, and civil society will be essential to drive meaningful progress towards a more sustainable and circular economy.

Authored by Isabelle Des Chênes , Vice President, Policy

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