Public Services and Procurement Canada commitments towards zero plastic waste
Context
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) will play a leadership role in the reduction of single use plastics and promote the use of sustainable plastics/alternatives in both federal procurement and in federal operations.
Suggested responses
- The government is committed to protecting the environment and is taking a leadership role by greening its operations
- Public Services and Procurement Canada has begun to consult industry and stakeholders on the most effective ways to reduce and eliminate plastic waste through our procurement practices
- As the manager of one of the largest and most diverse real-estate portfolios, my department has also started integrating new waste management requirements in new and renewed leases, and mandating consideration of the use of plastics and alternatives in building standards
Background
Commitments for zero plastic waste
ln 2017, approximately 200 nations signed a United Nations Environment Assembly resolution underlining the importance of eliminating plastic waste in the oceans. Building on this, and on the Government's 2016 Oceans Protection Plan, in June 2018 Canada launched an Ocean Plastics Charter as part of its G7 presidency, under the theme of ocean health and marine litter.
Now adopted by 18 countries and more than 50 major corporations, the Charter sets out ambitious targets and commitments for zero plastic waste:
- using 100% reusable, recyclable or, where viable alternatives do not exist, recoverable plastics by 2030
- increasing recycled content by at least 50% in plastic products where applicable by 2030
- recycling and reusing at least 55% of plastic packaging by 2030 and recovering 100% of all plastics by 2040
- reducing use of plastic microbeads in rinse-off cosmetics and personal care consumer products to the extent possible by 2020, and addressing other sources of microplastics.
Under the Charter, signatory countries have committed to taking a life-cycle approach to the management of plastics, under 5 themes:
- promoting sustainable design, production and after-markets
- collection, management and other systems and infrastructure
- sustainable lifestyles and education
- research, innovation and new technologies and
- coastal and shoreline action.
As an initial action in June 2018, Canada announced a $100 million investment to support developing countries in implementing sound waste management systems and better managing plastic resources.
PSPC continues to support the implementation of green plastics in federal purchasing requirements and operations, including consulting stakeholders on developing standard procurement language and incorporating plastic waste considerations and alternatives into procurement practices.
These efforts support the government’s goals of:
- banning harmful single-use plastics as early as 2021 (such as plastic bags, straws, cutlery, plates, and stir sticks) where supported by scientific evidence and warranted, and take other steps to reduce pollution from plastic products and packaging
- working with provinces and territories to introduce standards and targets for companies that manufacture plastic products or sell items with plastic packaging so they become responsible for their plastic waste
- Date modified: