The Government of Canada undertook a thorough scientific review of the potential impacts of plastic pollution on human health and the environment.
The purpose of the science assessment was to summarize the current state of the science regarding the potential impacts of plastic pollution on human health and the environment, as well as to guide future research and inform decision-making on plastic pollution in Canada.
Based on the information provided in the science assessment, the Government is moving forward with regulatory measures under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) to protect the environment from plastic pollution.
About plastic pollution
Plastic pollution is considered to be plastic that is discarded, disposed of, or abandoned in the environment.
In an environmental context, plastics are often categorized by size, with macroplastics being larger than 5 millimetres (mm) and microplastics being less than or equal to 5 mm.
The improper management of plastic waste has contributed to plastic pollution, in both macroplastic and microplastic form, becoming ubiquitous in the environment.
Plastic pollution has been found on shorelines and in surface waters, sediment, soil, groundwater, indoor and outdoor air, drinking water and food. It has also been found in the digestive tracts of animals.
There is increasing global concern that plastic pollution negatively affects the environment and may negatively affect human health.
The discussion paper, A proposed integrated management approach to plastic products to prevent waste and pollution, outlined a methodology to categorize single-use plastic and provided details on other risk management measures being considered.
Release to the environment
Plastics enter the environment through various sources, which may include litter, mismanaged waste, fishing based activities, or agricultural activities.
Plastics from land and water-based activities can be released into the environment:
as macroplastics in their initial manufactured form, for example, as discarded single-use plastic bags and straws, or through spillage during transport;
as macroplastics in the form of large pieces of plastics, for example, abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear; or
as microplastics, for example, microfibres released from washing clothes.
Microplastics can come from the breakdown of larger plastic items in the environment.
Microplastics found in indoor air are usually the result of shedding of fibres from clothing, furniture, carpeting and household goods, while the presence of microplastics in outdoor air is influenced by various sources including vehicle tire wear and tear.
Exposure and impacts on the environment and humans
Single-use plastic litter is found on shorelines across Canada.
Macroplastics have been shown to cause physical harm to individual animals and to have the potential to negatively affect the habitat of animals.
Animals can become entangled in macroplastics, which can lead to suffocation, strangulation, and even mortality.
Animals can also ingest plastic, which can lead to suffocation or starvation.
Plastic pollution may disrupt habitats by acting as transport mediums for non-native species, which may lead to a loss of biodiversity and to the transport of diseases in wildlife, thus altering their genetic diversity.
Microplastic particles are found in fresh and marine surface waters. These particles have been found in aquatic organisms, specifically fish and shellfish. In addition, microplastic particles may eventually sink in aquatic environments, leading to their accumulation in the bottom sediment. Microplastics are also found in soil.
The evidence for potential effects of microplastics on individual animals and the environment was less clear.
People in Canada may be exposed to microplastics by eating food and drinking bottled water and tap water, as well as from breathing indoor and outdoor air. However, exposure to microplastic pollution was not expected to be of concern for human health.
Science assessment recommendations
The Government proposed that action be taken to reduce the presence of plastic pollution in the environment.
The science assessment recommended that research be conducted to address key knowledge gaps, including:
developing standardized methods for sampling, quantifying, characterizing, and evaluating the effects of macroplastics and microplastics;
furthering the understanding of the ecotoxicological effects of microplastics;
furthering the understanding of human exposure to microplastics;
furthering the understanding of the effects of microplastics on human health; and,
expanding and developing consistent monitoring efforts to include parts of the environment which are less studied, such as soil.
The integrated management approach takes into consideration barriers to reaching zero plastic waste such as weak end-markets for recycled plastics, low collection rates and insufficient recovery options.
The discussion paper presented a comprehensive approach for managing plastics, including potentially banning or restricting 6 problematic single-use plastics, setting performance requirements that would establish recycled content requirements and working to expand extended producer responsibility in Canada.
A what we heard report was published in August 2021 and summarizes the feedback received on the discussion paper via written comments, webinars, and stakeholder discussion sessions.
Six single-use plastic items are included in these regulations as they are prevalent in the environment, pose a threat of harm to wildlife and their habitat, are hard to recycle, and have readily available alternatives.
These regulations ban the manufacture, import and sale of single-use plastic checkout bags, cutlery, foodservice ware made from or containing problematic plastics, ring carriers, stir sticks and straws.
Exceptions to the prohibition on straws would allow access to single-use plastic flexible straws to accommodate people with disabilities and people who need them for health reasons.
The Consultation paper: a proposed federal plastics registry for producers of plastic products for a consultation period that ended on October 7, 2022. This consultation paper provided stakeholders with the opportunity to provide input on how the Government of Canada could establish a federal plastics registry and require producers of plastic products to report on plastics in the Canadian economy. The federal plastics registry would support provincial and territorial extended producer responsibility systems by harmonizing how data is collected and made available to Canadians. This will improve the transparency of plastics recycling systems across Canada and support higher rates of value recovery.
A what we heard report was published in February 2023 and summarizes the feedback received on the consultation paper.
A what we heard report was published in February 2023 and summarizes the feedback received on the consultation paper.
The Technical paper: Federal Plastics Registry was published on April 17, 2023 for a 30-day public comment period ending on May 18, 2023. The paper outlines the technical details and reporting requirements being considered for the Federal Plastics Registry. The paper has taken into account the significant feedback received from partners, stakeholders and the public during consultations.
The Recycled content and labelling rules for plastics: Regulatory framework paper was published on April 17, 2023, for a 30-day public comment period ending on May 18, 2023. The paper outlines a regulatory framework for plastic packaging and certain single-use plastics that includes recycled content requirements and labelling rules for recyclability and compostability. It provides an updated and more detailed overview of the regulatory approach the Government is proposing for the proposed regulations, which are currently under development.
