Learn More - Responsible Plastic Use Coalition

Learn More

We need policy based in science, not politics. The challenge we face is plastic waste in the environment. RPUC members are investing in innovation and implementing solutions to address this challenge. We want to continue to work with government to reduce post-consumer plastic in the environment; we can only deliver a zero plastic waste future for Canada by working together on a unified strategy implemented nationally.

Using the Canadian Environmental Protection Act to declare plastic manufactured items toxic is a significant overreach by the federal government and will have unnecessary and unintended consequences, including:

Making it more difficult to create a circular economy for plastics

Preventing new recycling pathways for plastic

Increasing cost and confusion for consumers

Reducing investment and innovation by industry due to uncertainty and changing regulations

Resulting in negative environmental outcomes

Using an inappropriate tool which ultimately weakens CEPA

This could signal the beginning of further government restrictions on products that Canadians count on in their daily lives. It sets a dangerous precedent that will put a variety of other products under review for additional regulation in the future.