{"id":56015,"date":"2023-01-25T14:36:03","date_gmt":"2023-01-25T19:36:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/?p=56015"},"modified":"2025-07-02T04:07:06","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T08:07:06","slug":"dozens-of-groups-join-our-call-to-expandtheban-on-single-use-plastics-will-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/story\/56015\/dozens-of-groups-join-our-call-to-expandtheban-on-single-use-plastics-will-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Dozens of groups join our call to #ExpandTheBan on single-use plastics. Will you?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The first phase of Canada\u2019s single-use plastics ban has come into force, but it\u2019s leaving many people wondering what the change is going to look like in their everyday lives and for the environment. Over the next couple of years, we should expect to see a reduction in some key single-use plastics in beach and community cleanups. And that\u2019s obviously a goal. But the reality is that many \u2013 or actually most<\/a>\u2013 polluting plastics will be left to continue to wreak havoc, threatening the health of people, wildlife, the climate and ecosystems. <\/p>\n\n

And that\u2019s why Greenpeace along with our friends at Environmental Defence, Toronto Environmental Alliance, Health and Environment Justice Support, Friends of the Earth Canada, Mind Your Plastic and the David Suzuki Foundation have been calling on the federal government to expand the single-use plastic ban<\/strong> to be more comprehensive in scope, and bold in action. Banning the first six single-use plastics was a key step forward, and now it\u2019s time for the next six! <\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

This week we ramped up our call to #ExpandTheBan by releasing an agreed priority ban list. <\/strong>The list consists of six categories of single-use plastic items and a group of highly problematic substances. But it\u2019s not just the usual environmental groups who are calling for this change. In an open letter to Minister Guilbeault and Minister Duclos<\/strong>: we have been joined by over 60 groups that include health organizations, businesses, reuse providers and other parties who want to see plastic reduction prioritized. <\/p>\n\n

Here is the letter that we will deliver tomorrow. If your group wants to add your support, reach out to us and we\u2019ll add your name!<\/p>\n\n

\"\"

Dear Minister Guilbeault and Minister Duclos,

We, the undersigned organizations and individuals, are deeply concerned about the plastic waste and pollution crisis and its devastating impacts worldwide. As responsible ministers for theCanadian Environmental Protection Act <\/em>\u2013 \u201can Act respecting pollution prevention and the protection of the environment and human health\u201d, we urge you to take bolder and urgent action to tackle the crisis by expanding the single-use plastics ban to include a more comprehensive list of problematic plastics and substances. 

The federal, provincial and territorial governments<\/a> have already identified a substantive list of plastic items that end up in the environment, are harmful to habitats and species, and\/or cause significant challenges in end of life management. Plastic pollutes at each stage of its lifecycle and puts the health of the climate, wildlife, ecosystems, and humans at risk. Downstream management measures are insufficient to reduce waste and curb pollution, and the reduction of plastic produced is required to prevent further harm.

Canada committed to achieve zero plastic waste by 2030; however, the current ban covers only about 3 per cent of the plastic waste generated nationwide. To meet this goal, and key climate and biodiversity restoration targets, the production, distribution, sale, import and export of problematic and unnecessary plastic must be phased out through stronger regulatory action. 

To build on the previous six single-use plastics that are covered by the ban, we call for an expansion of the ban to include these next six categories of single-use plastic manufactured items.

1) All takeout containers, cups and lids
2) Bottles and caps
3) Sachets, pouches and wrappers
4) Bags, film and wrap
5) Filtered cigarettes
6) Produce stickers

We further call for the elimination of the following highly problematic polymers, chemical additives and types of plastic products:

Polymers:
1) Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
2) Polystyrene
3) Polyurethanes
4) Fluorinated polymers

Chemical additives:
1) Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
2) Phthalates
3) Bisphenols
4) Brominated flame retardants
5) Chlorinated paraffins
6) Benzotriazole UV stabilizers

Products:
1) So-called \u201cflushables\u201d
2) So-called \u201cbiodegradable,\u201d \u201ccompostable\u201d and \u201coxo-degradable\u201d plastics

Canada is well-positioned to set a new precedent on taking meaningful action to mirror the urgency and scale of the worsening pollution crisis. We represent thousands of people across Canada who are calling on you to commit to expanding the ban, and accelerate a just transition to zero waste, circular systems centred on reuse. 
\u2026\u2026\u2026..

Action Environnement Basses-Laurentides<\/strong>
Ambioterra<\/strong>
Anarres Natural Health Apothecary<\/strong>
Association qu\u00e9b\u00e9coise Z\u00e9ro D\u00e9chet (AQZD)<\/strong>
Atlantic Healthy Oceans Initiative<\/strong>
Bateau bateau<\/strong>
Boco Boco<\/strong>
Breast Cancer Action Quebec<\/strong>
Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE)<\/strong>
Circulr Inc.<\/strong>
Citizens Environment Alliance of Southwestern Ontario<\/strong>
Collectivit\u00e9 z\u00e9ro \u00e9mission nette L\u2019Assomption-D\u2019Autray<\/strong>
Comit\u00e9 de vigilance environnementale de l’est de Montr\u00e9al (CVEEM)<\/strong>
Conservation Council of New Brunswick<\/strong>
Craque-Bitume<\/strong>
David Suzuki Foundation<\/strong>
DreamZero<\/strong>
Eau Secours<\/strong>
Ecology Action Centre<\/strong>
Environmental Defence Canada<\/strong>
ENvironnement Jeunesse(ENJEU)<\/strong>
Environnement Vert Plus<\/strong>
\u00c9quiterre<\/strong>
Etobicoke Climate Action<\/strong>
Fondation Rivi\u00e8res<\/strong>
Friendlier<\/strong>
Friends of the Earth Canada<\/strong>
Front commun qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois pour une gestion \u00e9cologique des d\u00e9chets (FCQGED)<\/strong>
GRAME<\/strong>
Green 13<\/strong>
Greenpeace Canada<\/strong>
Groupe \u00c9COSPH\u00c8RE<\/strong>
Health and Environment Justice Support<\/strong>
Inwit Zero Waste Takeout & Corporate Meals<\/strong>
L\u2019Assomption en Transition<\/strong>
La R\u00e9colte<\/strong>
La Vague<\/strong>
Le Conseil central du Montr\u00e9al m\u00e9tropolitain \u2013 CSN<\/strong>
Le Front commun pour la transition \u00e9nerg\u00e9tique (FCT\u00c9)<\/strong>
Les Aliments Naturels L’Eau Vive<\/strong>
Let\u2019s Talk Trash<\/strong>
Mind Your Plastic<\/strong>
Nanaimo Recycling Exchange Society<\/strong>
NON \u00e0 une mar\u00e9e noire dans le Saint-Laurent<\/strong>
OneSoak<\/strong>
Ontario Nature<\/strong>
Ontario Rivers Alliance<\/strong>
Packt Reuse Systems Inc.<\/strong>
Parkdale-HighPark for Climate Action<\/strong>
Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada<\/strong>
Prosp\u00e9rit\u00e9 Sans P\u00e9trole<\/strong>
Reego<\/strong>
R\u00e9seau des femmes en environnement<\/strong>
R\u00e9seau qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois des groupes \u00e9cologistes (RQGE)<\/strong>
Reusables.com<\/strong>
Solidarit\u00e9 environnement Sutton<\/strong>
StopPlastics<\/strong>
Suppli<\/strong>
Surfrider Foundation Canada<\/strong>
The Soap Dispensary and Kitchen Staples<\/strong>
Toronto Environmental Alliance<\/strong>
Union des employ\u00e9s et employ\u00e9es de service, Section Locale 800<\/strong>
Univert Laval<\/strong>
Vrac Sur Roues<\/strong>
Wallaceburg Advisory Team for a Cleaner Habitat (WATCH)<\/strong>
Waste Watch Ottawa<\/strong>
Women\u2019s Healthy Environments Network (WHEN)<\/strong>
Zero Waste British Columbia<\/strong>
Zero Waste Canada<\/strong>
Zero Waste Hub Toronto<\/strong>


\"\"<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n

Why we must keep pushing to end all disposables <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
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SIGN THE PETITION<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

If you\u2019ve noticed that some of your local restaurants, bars, cafes or other establishments offer takeout or dine-in fare with new types of products or packaging, they may have already phased out the banned items. Maybe they even reevaluated their business model to consider how they can reduce their reliance on plastic overall. <\/p>\n\n

But you may have also noticed that the new type of packaging offered at some places is just a different type of plastic or single-use option.<\/strong> This is not what we want the outcome of the ban to be.<\/em> We don\u2019t want to replace one plastic with another or swap one harmful product for another. Furthermore, switching from plastic to paper or other biobased single-use alternatives isn\u2019t going to help us reduce our overall impact on our ailing planet, or reduce the waste and pollution we\u2019re generating. We can\u2019t let industry push false solutions like chemical recycling<\/a> or try to convince us that so-called \u201ccompostable plastics<\/a>\u201d or 100% recycled plastic<\/a> is going to help dig us out from under our global plastic mountain. <\/p>\n\n

\"Clean
Collected cigarette butts. For World Clean-up Day, Greenpeace alongside community allies, volunteers, and a Greenpeace local group coordinate a clean-up activity and plastic polluter brand audit. The audit seeks to identify the major corporate contributors to plastic waste polluting shorelines, green spaces and communities.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

The current ban only covers about 3 per cent of the plastic waste we generate nationwide. Three. Per. Cent.<\/strong> Plastic pollutes at each stage of its life cycle. There\u2019s no such thing as a circular economy for plastics, but there is such a thing as a circular economy, and there is a growing movement in Canada<\/a> and around the world that is propelling our transition to it. <\/p>\n\n

You can help! Join us in urging Minister Guilbeault and Minister Duclos to act now to #ExpandTheBan and help Canada lead in breaking free from plastic. <\/strong>RETWEET the post below, or click here to send your own tweet<\/a><\/strong> to Environment Minister Guilbeault and Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos. <\/p>\n\n

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SIGN THE PETITION<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Dear @s_guilbeault<\/a> @jyduclos<\/a>: today I join @GreenpeaceCA<\/a> and 70+ orgs and businesses asking you to #ExpandTheBan<\/a>.

Plastic production is set to DOUBLE by 2050. That can\u2019t happen. #ZeroPlasticWaste<\/a> goals need a stronger ban. #Cdnpoli<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/Low6I40bRF<\/a><\/p>— Sarah King (@sckinger) March 13, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>