Canada Supports Transition to National Circular Plastics Economy

Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Jonathan Wilkinson, announced approximately $1.3M to support five projects that aim to reduce plastic waste, prevent plastic pollution, and support the transition to a national circular plastics economy.

The following organizations are receiving funding:

1. Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation will receive $100,000 to study the link between single-use plastic pollution and microplastic accumulation, as well as provide strategies for preventing plastic pollution in Atlantic Canada.
2. Canadian Coalition for Green Healthcare will receive $249,854 to recycle personal protective equipment from hospitals and medical single-use plastic waste to keep them out of the environment.
3. Conference Board of Canada will receive $390,000 to conduct research and develop a convening platform to inform Canada’s transition to a circular plastics economy.
4. Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Ontario will receive $250,000 to improve the management of compostable products and support the development of new standards for bioplastics.
5. Scout Environmental will receive $300,000 to develop a network that will be used to facilitate industry collaboration to reduce plastic waste.

The Government of Canada is collaborating with provinces and territories to reduce plastic pollution. Together, all federal, provincial and territorial governments agreed in principle to the Canada-wide Strategy on Zero Plastic Waste that lays out a vision for a circular economy for plastics. Last October, Canada announced the proposed next steps in its comprehensive plan to achieve zero plastic waste by 2030.

“Canadians want their governments to continue to take action on plastic waste and pollution,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, minister of environment and climate change. “We all have a role to play and we are proud to collaborate on these five different, yet very important, projects. We need to explore and capitalize on all our options for reducing plastic waste and pollution, as highlighted by our funding recipients today.”