Canadian circularity leaders launch new collaborative project

The Canada Plastics Pact (CPP), the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC), Circular Materials, the Circular Plastics Taskforce (CPT), Éco Entreprises Québec (ÉEQ) and The Film and Flexibles Recycling Coalition of The Recycling Partnership are partnering to launch PRFLEX, an initiative aimed at improving the recovery and recycling rates of flexible plastics collected from Canadian households.

Data gathered from this initiative will also be shared to support recycling in the U.S.

“Our common goal is to increase the use of recycled content in plastic packaging. For that to happen, we need improved sortation and recycling capacities in Canada,” the groups said in a joint statement. “This first-of-its-kind initiative represents a stepping stone towards that objective by way of assessing the current situation and designing high performing systems for films and flexibles across the country. We look forward to working together to increase recycling rates and advance a circular economy in Canada.”

The initiative, which is being supported by consulting firms NovAxia Inc. and Lichens Recyclability Inc., will have four distinct phases:

• Understanding baseline data to determine the percentage of flexible plastic packaging currently being collected and recycled, according to format and type, in each province.
• Identifying infrastructure gaps in material recovery facilities (MRFs) and at recyclers.
• Proposing new technologies and optimizing processes to increase capture rates, improve sorting and produce higher quality post-consumer recycled resins.
• Applying learnings by installing and measuring the performance of the better-suited equipment in select partner facilities.

“Further information will be communicated in the upcoming months as PRFLEX achieves its project milestones,” the statement said.