This Strategy lays out a path to treat plastic as an ever-valuable resource and defines areas of work that will contribute to reaching the ambitious plastic waste reduction targets laid out in the Ocean Plastics Charter. The Strategy and its implementation will be an important contribution to achieving both a circular and low-carbon economy and reducing the impact of plastic waste on the environment. The instrument adopts a circular economy approach, which aims to keep products and materials in use as long as possible and to maximize their value. The vision is to keep all plastics in the economy and out of the environment (zero plastic waste). The Strategy recognizes the interdependence of three areas of activity as elements of an integrated system: prevention, collection and clean-up, and value recovery. The system’s performance shall be supported and improved by a wide range of enabling activities such as consumer education, research, regulations and market-based instruments in order to achieve the zero plastic waste goal. In this context, the document focuses on : a) preventing plastic waste (for example by designing plastic products for longevity and reparability, or reducing demand for disposable plastic items); b) collecting all plastics, including through clean-up, so they are channelled back into the economy; and c) recovering value from all plastics. Ten results areas will drive the development of future actions and orient collective efforts to achieve zero plastic waste: 1) All plastic products are designed for greater durability, reuse and recycling; 2) The responsible use and recycling of single-use products is significantly increased; 3) Expanded collection systems keep all plastic products in the economy and out of the environment; 4) Strong domestic markets and varied end uses drive demand for recycled plastics; 5) Canada’s recycling capacity is world-leading and can process and recover value from all types of plastic waste; 6) Canadian households, businesses and institutions are empowered to prevent and manage plastic waste responsibly; 7) Plastic pollution generated by aquatic activities is significantly reduced; 8) Effective research and monitoring systems inform decision making and measure performance; 9) Effective capture and clean-up of plastic pollution protects Canada’s environment, shorelines and waterways; 10) Canadian leadership has accelerated global action to address marine litter and plastic pollution.
Canada · 2018-11-23