The Government of Canada have launched a consultation on the establishment of a new registry requiring plastic producers to report on the quantity and type of plastic they place on the Canadian market, and tracking plastic across its lifecycle in the economy, from production through end of life.
The new Federal Plastics Registry will form a part of Canada’s initiative to reduce plastic pollution and waste. The registry is aimed at informing actions to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, providing harmonized plastics data across the country, and making information accessible to consumers and businesses.
Under the new proposed registry, producers will be required to report annually on the amount and type of plastic they place on the market, how the plastic moves through the economy, and how it is managed at end of life.
The consultation, open until 13 February 2024, will seek input on aspects of the registry including its objectives, product categories covered, stakeholders required to report, reporting requirements and timelines, among other issues. The launch follows an initial consultation on the development of the registry completed in 2022. In April 2023, the government published a technical paper on the approach and details of the registry, as part of a series of measures to reduce plastic pollution, which also included consultations into proposed new labelling rules for products, and requirements for recycled content in plastic packaging.
