Plastics

Plastics are a growing problem, from the inability to recycle many types to microplastics and toxicity.

The Province of BC has regulated some types of single use plastics which has been a great first step. It has also funded shoreline cleanups but more work remains to be done to prevent pollution.

The federal government has also championed the Zero Plastic Waste Strategy and regulated plastics under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. However, the plastics industry is challenging this and more work is needed, including establishing a strong Global Plastics Treaty.

Tools

Province of BC -the Single-Use and Plastics Waste Prevention Regulation –info on the regulation and more tools for businesses, communities and others

Province of BC –Policy on the Use of Reusable Containers -yes, you can bring your own containers (some conditions apply).

Mind Your Plastic website for their programs for schools, businesses and municipalities

Plastics Working Group of the Public Technical Advisory Committee for Metro Vancouver’s waste planning – suggestions for actions

Plastic grass toolkit –how to avoid plastic “turf” fields

Food packaging forum fact sheets

Surfrider -Bioplastics Toolkit -summary -don’t use bioplastics.

Packaging -see the Unwrapped Project. Also see this Food Packaging Forum’s quick fact sheet on why plastics for food packaging is a concern.

Organizations

Greenpeace Canada –actively working to minimize the harm including advocacy campaigns

Beyond Plastics –this organization founded by a former US EPA employee shows the issues with plastics and the solutions.

Safer States -US-based organization that highlights the toxicity of plastics and how to avoid them.

and so many good BC and Canadian organizations including Ocean Legacy, Oceana, Ocean Ambassadors, Ocean Wise, Surfrider, Environmental Defense, David Suzuki Foundation and others.

Useful Reports

Story of Plastic – a film that is useful to start a conversation and inspire action.

The NRDC has released a worst of the worst list. A helpful tool for understanding the high priority materials, chemical additives and products to phase out.

Health impacts of plastics -this webpage highlights the various concerns

Canada’s Zero Plastics Waste Strategy Phase 1 and Phase 2

Grate, Froilan and Lili Fuhr, Why the Plastic Crisis Matters. Ties climate change to plastic. Good graphics on relative uses of plastics plus relative contribution to climate change.

Greenpeace (2019). Throwing Away the Future How Companies Still Have it Wrong on Plastic Pollution Solutions

Pew and SystemIQ –Breaking the Plastic Wave

Greenpeace report -The Climate Emergency Unpacked. Shows link between big brands, consumer goods and fossil fuel and plastics industry.

The Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health –this report notes the impacts of plastics on human and ocean health, the costs, and makes recommendations on how to address them. The need for a strong global plastics treaty is abundantly clear.

UN Environment Programme – Turn off the Tap report on plastics and actions .

Environmental Defense -JTL squared (2022) Canada’s Zero Plastics Packaging Waste Report card -synopsis- much more work is needed.

Healthcare and plastics – this webinar highlights how healthcare does not need to be so reliant on plastics.