
Category
Sustainability
Chile bans businesses from using plastic bags
As of August 3, large businesses have six months to phase out the use of plastic bags, while smaller ones will be given two years to adopt the new rules.
France to penalize use of non-recycled plastic
As part of pledge to use only recycled plastic nationwide by 2025, France plans to introduce a penalty system next year that would increase the costs of consumer goods with packaging made of non-recycled plastic.
Montreal-based sustainable chemicals maker BioAmber plans to liquidate
BioAmber filed for bankruptcy in early May, and has been unable to find a buyer for its assets since then.
Walt Disney Co. plans to eliminate plastic straws by mid-2019
The company also said that it plans to transition to using refillable in-room amenities in its hotels and on its cruise ships over the next few years; and that it will be reducing the number of plastic shopping bags in its parks as well as on its cruise line.
Adidas plans to use only recycled plastic by 2024
Adidas currently uses virgin polyester in a wide range of its products, from t-shirts to running shoes.
Starbucks proposed plastic straw ban draws fire from disability rights groups
Starbucks announced on July 9 that it would phase out plastic straws from its stores by 2020. In the past few days, however, several U.S.-based groups have protested the policy, saying it will exclude some people with disabilities.
EU plastics industry criticizes proposal to ban single-use plastics
The European Plastics Converters association and the European Bioplastics trade association are both speaking out against the EU’s proposed ban.
EU proposes ban on plastic straws, cutlery
The draft rules would ban the 10 single-use plastic products said to make up 70 per cent of all marine litter, including plastic cotton swabs, plates, and swizzle sticks.
Britain considers banning plastic straws, wants Canada to do the same
The United Kingdom wants to take action to ban plastic straws, plastic drink stirrers and plastic-stemmed cotton buds, and is urging other Commonwealth nations – including Canada – to follow suit.
Lego to use bio-based plastics in its toy blocks
Toy construction block maker Lego is replacing ABS with sugar cane-based polyethylene in part of the toy sets it manufactures.
Coca-Cola aims for 50 per cent recycled content by 2030
The Atlanta-based beverage giant wants its plastic bottles contain an average of 50 per cent recycled content by 2030.
Amcor to make its packaging range fully-recyclable by 2025
In a statement, Amcor said it will collaborate with customers, suppliers, governments and NGOs in order to develop and provide new eco-friendly packaging solutions.

Husky installs energy storage system to cut power costs
Designed and constructed for Husky by Convergent Energy + Power, the GridStar lithium-ion battery system can reduce electricity costs on the load by 15-30 per cent per year, starting in 2018.
Recycling associations create global partnership to harmonize testing
Called the Global Plastics Outreach Alliance, the coalition is designed to harmonize global testing protocols related to plastics recycling.
Canada’s plastic recycling rate continues to rise
The amount of post-consumer plastic packaging being recycled across…
CPIA stages annual Shoreline Cleanup
Held on October 18, the effort involved cleaning up litter along a portion of the Etobicoke Creek in Mississauga, Ont.
Demand for recycled PP nearing 300 million lbs per year: study
The demand for recycled polypropylene (PP) resin by major…
Metabolix exiting bioplastics business
Bioplastics maker Metabolix Inc. is getting out of the…
World bioplastics market is valued at $30.8 billion: report
The current global bioplastics market is valued at US$30.8…
Ikea launching products made from recycled plastics
Swedish retailer Ikea announced that their new cabinet line…
Solegear completes Ex-Tech acquisition
Vancouver, B.C.-based bioplastic manufacturer Solegear Bioplastic Technologies Inc. has…
New online directories assist in plastics film, foam recycling in Canada
In an effort to raise awareness around the various…
SPECIAL REPORT: The energy-efficient chemical supplier (and how to become one)
Energy costs are on the rise in Ontario, and chemical manufacturers are huge consumers. So now is definitely the time to get serious about finding new and efficient ways of using your electricity. The good news? There’s a wealth of experts and incentive programs at hand to help you along.
Commercial biomass sugar plant coming to Sarnia, Ont.
High-purity dextrose sugars can be transformed into bio-based products including organic acids, amino acids and bioplastics.

The energy-efficient chemical supplier (and how to become one)
Energy costs are on the rise in Ontario, and chemical manufacturers are huge consumers. So now is definitely the time to get serious about finding new and efficient ways of using your electricity. The good news? There’s a wealth of experts and incentive programs at hand to help you along.
Walmart Canada to charge five cents for plastic bags
As of February 9, Walmart Canada will begin to…
Erema goes to Russia
Austria-based plastic recycling systems producer Erema is about to…
U.S. to ban microbeads starting in 2017
President Barack Obama has signed into law a bill…
Global bioplastics market to reach $30 billion by 2020: report
Driven by consumer preference, the global market for bioplastics…
Brussels plastics recycling show cancelled following terror alert
The Plastics Recycling Show (PRS) Europe, a two-day conference…
Fracking risks are manageable: report
The report, by the Fraser Institute, finds that fracking-related concerns about drinking water and air quality are largely unfounded.
Ice River Springs opens PET bottled water plant in Quebec
Ice River Springs, a Canadian-owned bottler, has opened a…