CIAC “disappointed” over Canada’s ban of certain plastic items
by CM Staff
CIAC says transitioning operations is not an action its members can deliver quickly.
OTTAWA — The Chemistry Industry Association of Canada has expressed disappointment with the Canadian government’s decision to move forward and ban certain plastic items through its Single-Use Plastics Prohibition Regulations.
CIAC says that bans of some single use plastic items will not solve the overall problem of plastics pollution and the management of post-consumer plastics.
“We are disappointed that safe, inert plastic materials that play such important roles in Canadians’ lives are being banned when innovative technologies like advanced recycling are available to manage them effectively,” said Elena Mantagaris, vice–president of the CIAC plastics division in a statement.
“Rather than bans, we need to invest in recycling infrastructure and innovation, including infrastructure to manage compostables, to harness the $8 billion value of plastics that are currently sent to landfill and recirculate them in the economy.”
CIAC referenced estimates that the demand for plastics will triple by 2050 to meet climate change and emission goals. The association further argues that plastics are an energy efficient material with a lower environmental footprint than most alternatives.
It also says that the plastics sector is a major contributor to the Canadian economy, adding $35 billion annually and responsible for over 100,000 direct jobs in 2021.
Furthermore, CIAC says transitioning operations is not an action its members can deliver quickly. They would require “significant” engineering, planning and procurement of long lead capital assets. While the organization continues its pandemic recovery, it says it continues to feel the effects of global supply chain disruption where there are also ongoing efforts to restore efficiency and capacity.
