Share your thoughts: Development of rules to strengthen the recycling and composting of plastics through accurate labelling

Current status: Closed

This consultation was open from July 25, 2022 to October 07, 2022.

The Government of Canada was seeking feedback on the development of labelling rules to improve the accuracy of recyclability and compostability information found on plastic packaging and single-use items. This consultation paper outlined the Government’s current understanding of the issue and proposed potential approaches for establishing a labelling regime for recyclable and compostable plastics in Canada.

Partners, stakeholders and interested members of the public were invited to provide comments on the consultation paper. Comments received will be taken into account in the development of the proposed instrument.

Who was the focus of this consultation

We engaged with:

Manufacturers and importers of plastic packaging and single-use plastics
Brand owners and other producers
Provinces and territories
Municipalities
Waste management companies
Producer responsibility organizations
Non-governmental organizations
Organics processors

Key questions for input

Ideas and input were sought on:

Collection and acceptance of plastics for recycling
Alignment with other federal, provincial and territorial initiatives
End markets
Product scope
Labelling requirements
Packaging design
Compliance methods and compliance verification
Implementation
Compostability certification

Related information

The Government of Canada has a comprehensive agenda to achieve zero plastic waste by 2030. As part of this agenda, the Government is working with partners and stakeholders on a range of measures to prevent plastic pollution and improve the rate at which plastics is recovered at end-of-life and re-circulated in the Canadian economy. These measures include:

banning harmful single-use plastics, which will prevent 22,000 tonnes of plastic pollution and 1.3 million tonnes of hard-to-recycle plastic waste over 10 years;
developing, in collaboration with provinces and territories, guidance to facilitate consistent policies that make producers responsible for recycling systems, which will improve collection and recycling infrastructure;
establishing a federal plastics registry that requires producers of plastic products to report annually on plastics in the Canadian economy;
requiring that plastic packaging in Canada contain at least 50% recycled content by 2030, in particular by developing regulations that will set minimum percentage recycled content requirements for certain items made of plastic;
introducing labelling rules that prohibit the use of the chasing-arrows symbol on plastic products unless 80% of Canada’s recycling facilities accept, and have reliable end markets for, these products; and
addressing inaccurate degradability and compostability labeling claims for plastic products.

Government of Canada delivers on commitment to ban harmful single-use plastics

Canada one-step closer to zero plastic waste by 2030

Government of Canada consulting on new measures to require certain plastic items be made of at least 50% recycled material

A proposed integrated management approach to plastic products to prevent waste and pollution: discussion paper

What We Heard Report: A proposed integrated management approach to plastic products to prevent waste and pollution

Canada Gazette, Part II, Volume 155, Number 10: Final Order Adding plastic manufactured items to Schedule 1 to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999

What We Heard Report: Developing rules for recyclability and compostability labelling and a federal plastics registry