CPIA hands out 2011 awards during Plast-Ex

The Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA) spotlighted a series of some sustainable initiatives, from closed-loop bottle recycling to new green chemistry, at its 2011 Plastics Industry Awards event.

Held on June 23 during the Plast-Ex show in Toronto, the annual award event recognizes outstanding individuals and businesses for their commitment and dedication to the growth and sustainability of the Canadian plastics industry.

A new award was created this year in the category of Recycled Plastics Product Award for companies whose products or packaging contains at least 20 per cent post-use plastics. Three companies received the award. Woodbridge, Ont.-based Gracious Living Corporation, which makes blue boxes from 70 per cent post-consumer material; Canadian Tire Corporation, selected for its Blue Planet Storage Solutions product line, which includes items made from at least 75 per cent recycled content; and Montreal-based Interplast Packaging Inc., chosen for its egg packaging that contains a minimum of 25 per cent post-consumer recycled material and 25 per cent post industrial sourced material.

This year’s Plastics Innovation Award went to IPEX Inc., which manufactures integrated thermoplastic piping systems. The company, with headquarters in Toronto and Montreal, uses a new orientation process to make pipe with enhanced toughness and flexibility.  

Ice River Springs won the Plastics Stewardship Award. The bottled water company, headquartered in Feversham, Ont., was selected for being the first North American water bottler to make its own resin and produce plastic water bottles made of 100 per cent recycled plastic.

But the biggest honor – the coveted Leader of the Year award – went to former CPIA president and CEO Mark Badger. Handed out annually since 1966, the Leader of the Year designation has been given to individuals that are widely recognized as having made important contributions to Canada’s plastics industry, and who continually use their knowledge and influence to improve the industry’s competitive, innovative and environmental performance. Badger’s new role is as CEO of Switchable Solutions, a Toronto-based company with technology enabling efficient and environmentally friendly plastic recycling and processing of oil sands.