The initiative will be launched in four phases, with the first phase will focus on understanding baseline data to assess the amount of flexible plastic packaging currently being collected and recycled
The findings from this initiative will be used to support the recycling system in the US. (Credit: Nareeta Martin on Unsplash)
The Canada Plastics Pact (CPP), the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC), Circular Materials, the Circular Plastics Taskforce (CPT), Éco Entreprises Québec (ÉEQ) and The Film and Flexibles Recycling Coalition of The Recycling Partnership have partnered to unveil PRFLEX initiative.
The collaboration is designed to enhance the recovery and recycling rates of flexible plastics collected from Canadian households. The findings will be used to support the recycling system in the US.
The instigating members will implement this collaboration with support from consulting firms NovAxia and Lichens Recyclability.
The initiative will be launched in four phases, with the first phase will focus on understanding baseline data to assess the amount of flexible plastic packaging currently being collected and recycled. The data will be studied according to format and type, in every province.
The second phase will identify infrastructure gaps in material recovery facilities (MRFs) and at recyclers.
In the third phase, new technologies will be proposed to optimise processes to increase capture rates, enhance sorting and make post-consumer recycled resins.
In the final stage, the learnings from the initiative will be applied by installing and measuring the performance of the better-suited equipment in specific partner facilities.
PRFLEX leadership team joint declaration stated: “Our common goal is to increase the use of recycled content in plastic packaging. For that to happen, we need improved sortation and recycling capacities in Canada.
“This first-of-its-kind initiative represents a stepping stone towards that objective by way of assessing the current situation and designing high-performing systems for films and flexibles across the country.
“We look forward to working together to increase recycling rates and advance a circular economy in Canada.”
In June last year, Circular Plastic Taskforce partnered with Digimarc, a provider of enterprise software and services, to test Digimarc Recycle to streamline the sortation of flexible plastic packaging in Canada.