Helping create a consistent framework for plastics recycling

In Canada, an estimated 3 million tonnes of plastic waste is generated per year. We only recycle 9% of it. The rest ends up in landfills, incinerators or the environment.

Canada can do better. We can move toward a more sustainable circular economy model for all materials and products in Canada, including plastics. But barriers exist.

Currently, Canada has no consistent definition for plastics recycling. This makes it hard to create efficient recycling processes, measure progress, or develop effective legislation.

To address this issue, CSA Group has developed a new standard that provides a comprehensive definition of plastics recycling in Canada. It will enable policymakers
and commercial leaders to use a common language, ensuring a clear, consistent understanding of when and how much plastic has been recycled.

51% of Canadian business leaders surveyed say their companies do not have a clear definition of plastics recycling. 81% believe there should be a more consistent framework.

The new Plastics Recycling standard provides this clear framework, including measurement and reporting guidelines to help Canadian industries in advancing lower carbon, more circular practices.

Together, we can build a more sustainable, resilient and prosperous future.

To learn more about the new Plastics recycling standard, visit csagroup.org/PlasticsRecycling

Embracing the circular economy model

With the world’s population growing, the need for food, energy, and various products is rapidly accelerating. However, our resources are not unlimited, and their extraction is often associated with environmental degradation. Moreover, when no longer needed, many products end up in landfills.

Contrary to this linear ‘take-make-waste’ model, the circular economy emphasizes preserving energy, labour, and materials embodied in products. Shifting to a model based on reuse, remanufacturing, refurbishment, and recycling can help reduce the demand for virgin raw materials, generate less waste and greenhouse gas emissions, and limit adverse environmental impacts.

Embracing the circular economy can help Canada foster a more sustainable, resilient, and prosperous future, create new business opportunities, and stimulate innovation and job creation. Through its research, standards development, and collaborative initiatives, CSA Group’s Standards Development Organization helps Canadian industries adopt low-carbon, circular practices, from the design and deconstruction of buildings to reuse and recycling of construction materials, electric vehicle batteries, and plastics and the management of end-of-life products.

A new standard helps bring clarity, accuracy, and transparency to plastics recycling

With no standardized definition for plastics recycling, it is difficult to accurately measure, report, verify, and compare recycling outcomes and compliance with the set targets and policies. The new National Standard of Canada, CSA R117:24, Plastics recycling: Definitions, measuring, and reporting, developed with support from the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), aims to help overcome this barrier by providing a consistent framework for plastics recycling and supporting the transition to circularity in Canada.

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CSA Group standards solutions for circular practices to preserve resources and reduce waste

Reclaimed bricks prepared for reusing in a construction project

Circularity in construction

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Female worker sorting plastic waste in a recycling facility

Supporting circularity through value retention and waste reduction strategies

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A charging station for electric vehicles

Battery electric vehicle charging and energy management

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