Plastic is an Essential Part of Our Sustainable Future
From life-saving medical equipment and sustainable electric vehicles to fresh food and children’s playgrounds, plastic is fundamental to our healthy, mindful and modern way of living.
Reduced Waste &
Increased Sustainability
Renewable Energy and Sustainability
Plastic is a powerful innovation. Plastic helps other industries reduce their emissions, and contributes to the development of cleaner technologies, like solar panels and wind turbines. Did you know that a single 17 tonne wind turbine blade can contain over seven tonnes of plastic resin? Plastic supports sustainability by facilitating the creation of the infrastructure needed to build green, energy efficient homes and renewable energy.
Food Packaging
Plastic plays an integral and often-overlooked role our food supply chain. Did you know that avoidable food waste represents nearly $50 billion and 22.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year in Canada alone? In addition to ensuring Canadians have access to fresh food year-round, plastic combats food waste by extending the shelf life of fresh food, which can help reduce loss by over 30%. (1)
[1] Less Food Loss and Waste, Less Packaging Waste (National Zero Waste Council March 2020 Report)
Medical Equipment
Every modern emergency room, clinic, and dentist and doctor’s office relies on plastic. From everyday items like bandages and child-resistant medicine containers to surgical equipment and personal protective equipment that contributes to hygienic environments and the safety of medical professionals, plastic is an indispensable part of Canada’s health care industry. Saving Plastic means staying healthy.
Transportation
Most modern cars are made of over 50% plastic by volume, and that number is on the rise. Eco-friendly advancements in performance, safety and comfort across all modes of transformation rely on plastic to power innovation. And we’re working with innovators across the industry to ensure that more and more recycled plastic is being used to drive these exciting advancements.
Construction
Plastic is not only essential to how we live, but where we live. Plastic building materials improve the durability, energy efficiency, and safety of essential construction products from roofing and insulation to state-of-the-art windows and plumbing. Plastics save energy by helping keep our homes warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Plastic is also becoming an important building block in the construction industry, quite literally. “Green concrete” is an in-demand material composed of regenerated plastic waste; it’s as strong as traditional cement and its fabrication produces significantly less GHG emissions.
Extended Producer Responsibility
Canadian industry is leading the recycling charge, but we all have a role to play in our sustainable future. It’s about more than keeping plastic out of landfills and extending its lifecycle, it’s also about inspiring new generations of Canadian innovators and promoting accessibility, ensuring all Canadians have access to helpful recycling programs. Recycled and recovered plastics contribute to sustainable product designs and lessen our reliance on fossil fuels as feedstock. Better harmonization of recycling programs across provinces is one way to ensure our shared future.
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