Plastics challenge – Sustainable alternatives to plastic packaging

The program will fund projects that proposed solution to replace “challenging” plastic packaging product(s) that contribute to plastic waste and pollution:

1. Present an innovative product and/or technology that enables the replacement of plastic packaging that contribute to plastic waste and pollution in Canada with a reusable or readily recyclable alternative, as defined below. For example, solutions could eliminate plastic packaging for durable goods including but not limited to molded polystyrene, mixed material packaging, polyurethane foam, bubble wrap, etc.
   • Eligible reuse solutions must enable the replacement of challenging plastics packaging with a reusable alternative. Proposals must clearly detail the business context in which the reuse system would operate. Research by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation concludes that reusable packaging alone is a $10B USD innovation opportunity that can deliver significant user and business benefits. While reuse systems require changes in both business models and consumer behaviour, they can also reduce costs and environmental impacts while delivering a superior user experience.
   • Eligible recyclable solutions must enable the replacement of challenging plastics packaging with an alternative that is readily recyclable in most geographic regions in Canada. For the purposes of this challenge, “readily recyclable” is defined as a product for which it is reasonable to assume that at least 60% of the Canadian population would have access to a collection system that would accept the item. Solutions must clearly detail how the solution meets this definition and its compatibility with existing recycling infrastructure in Canada.
2. Be informed by science, be evidence-based and consider environmental, social, and economic impacts.
3. Describe the proposed product and/or technology and how it compares with existing single-use plastics packaging products, explain its applicability in different contexts, and describe the potential benefits and drawbacks throughout the entire life-cycle (i.e. from input, production, use, and waste).

In addition, the proposed solution should:

1. Provide reusable or readily recyclable solutions for challenging single-use plastic packaging that maintain essential functionality within their context (e.g. convenience, accessibility).