1.6 million tonne
reduction of CO2e
can be achieved in Canada each year through reuse, remanufacturing, refurbishment, and repair activities[2]
Cirularity for value retention and waste reduction

Learn about barriers to repairability in Canada and how to encourage participation in repair activities and improved repairability of products.
Standards and research support waste reduction and better management of resources
45% of greenhouse gas emissions come from how we make and use products and food4. The linear “take-make-waste model” relies on resource extraction and processing, discarding products as waste when no longer needed. Adopting circular economy principles can help preserve energy, labour, and materials embodied in the products and their components. Recycling, reuse, remanufacturing, refurbishment, and repair can help lessen the need for raw virgin materials, reduce waste, and limit other adverse environmental impacts.
CSA Group research, standards-based solutions, and other activities support the adoption of value-retention and waste-reduction practices by:
- providing guidance and best practices for management of end-of-life materials
- defining recycling of plastics in the context of the circular economy
- identifying standardization opportunities to encourage participation in repair activities and better repairability of products
- supporting design for recycling
- collaborating with industry stakeholders and governments, including Canada Plastics Pact, Circular Economy Leadership Canada, and National Zero Waste Council.
CSA Group also administers a comprehensive Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) Registry that helps organizations communicate the environmental performance of their products and services, from raw material acquisition through production and use to end-of-life.
Feature

CSA Group research proposes a definition of recycling consistent with circular economy principles to help provide clarity in recycling regulations, level the playing field for producers, support investment in material sorting and recycling facilities, and serve as a basis for a future plastics recycling standard.
Defining Recycling in the Context of Plastics
Get involved

Stay up-to-date with the latest developments at CSA Group, connect with your peers and the CSA Group team to ask questions and share your insights, or get involved in the standards development. There are many ways to stay in touch and contribute to creating a better, safer, and more sustainable world.
[1]Primary Materials in the Emerging Circular Economy, Smart Prosperity Institute, 2021
[2]Socio-economic and environmental study of Canadian remanufacturing sector and other value-retention processes in the context of circular economy, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 2021
[3]Turning Point, The Expert Panel on the Circular Economy in Canada, Council of Canadian Academies, 2021
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