Canadian plastic industry leaders launch ‘Save Plastic’

The new awareness campaign aims to promote plastic as a valuable, sustainable resource when properly recycled.

Leaders in the Canadian plastics industry have launched Save Plastic, a new campaign promoting plastic as a valuable resource that—when managed responsibly—is essential for a modern, sustainable way of life.

This awareness campaign encourages Canadians to consider a different perspective on plastic using simple, evidence-based information.

t’s time to repackage our perspective on plastic, which will be critical in reaching Canada’s climate goals, say industry leaders.

“It’s on all of us to make sure we save plastic responsibly, keeping it out of landfills and enabling Canadian innovation,” Winnipeg, Manitoba-based Winpak Ltd. Director of Corporate Sustainability Phillip Crowder says. “Society and the environment will benefit from a system that has a harmonized list of recyclable materials, making recycling more accessible for the average Canadian.”

Save Plastic is more than just a call for action, it’s a call for meaningful change. A study by the Canadian government states that almost $8 billion worth of plastic sent to landfill could be diverted through better collection and recycling. By saving plastic from landfills, the plastic industry could recover a valuable resource that would enable it to meet up to 60 percent of plastic demand by 2050 with recycled plastics. The industry could accomplish this while helping to achieve carbon net-zero goals and zero plastic waste.

“The role of plastic in our society, while critical, continues to change. Industry is taking the lead on innovating and investing in recycling technologies, as well as evolving the design of products and packages,” Chemistry Industry Association of Canada CEO Bob Masterson says. “Plastics will continue to play an important role in decarbonizing our economy through clean energy, the automotive sector, reducing food waste and many other uses. We can ensure plastics are seen as a renewable resource that never reaches the landfill.”

wastetoday: by Bob Gaetjens