In This Section
General Reference Section All Guides
What is Life Cycle Analysis
An executive summary of "what is life cycle analysis" is provided.
What is Advanced Recycling?
An executive summary of what is advanced recycling technology and what it means for food packaging.
What plastic materials are most favourable and unfavourable in produce packaging?
Helps CPMA members in their packaging decision making process by identifying favourable and unfavourable plastic materials, and ones to minimize in the design of packaging structures.
Where do I get more information on creating a circular economy for plastics in Canada?
A shared action plan to build a circular economy for plastic packaging in Canada.
What are the quantities of plastic packaging generated in Canada, and how it is being managed?
Reviews the quantity of plastic packaging generated in Canada and how plastics packaging is being managed.
What are ways to accelerate recycling best practices across the value chain?
Accelerating Recycling Best Practices: The 2023 Knowledge Report
This report digs into what it will take from all of those involved across the value chain to incite the change necessary to accelerate recycling best practices.
What are the Golden Design Rules?
The GDR's are voluntary commitments outline specific design changes aligned with globally recognized technical guidelines and targets laid out in the Ellen MacArthur Foundation?s New Plastic Economy Global Commitments.
How do I determine if a plastic package is recyclable?
This tool assesses the recyclability of plastic packaging and shows to what extent it is suitable for recycling by rating it within a class system from A to F, and provides recommendations on where improvements to the package can be made.
Are there other examples of Sustainable Packaging Roadmaps?
Explores all aspects of sustainable packaging including definitions, key objectives, strategies, and tactics, and provides a 10 factor decision making framework that impacts all sustainable packaging decisions.
What are the key packaging material considerations for addressing consumer requirements?
Helps identify, assess and select packaging material options which address end user requirements related to safety, minimizing environmental impacts, and consumer convenience and affordability.
What are the main elements that make-up and impact packaging pricing?
The article helps to simplify the different elements that make-up and impact the cost of your packaging.
How much packaging and paper products are collected and disposed in the IC&I sector in Canada?
BC IC&I Packaging and Paper Products (PPP) Report
This a baseline report which helps to better understand the quantity, quality and composition of packaging diverted and disposed in the IC&I section.
What is the National Produce Strategy for plastic packaging in Canada?
Highlights a National Produce Strategy for ensuring that produce packaging evolves and continues to play an integral role in delivering product choice, quality, affordability, safety, and reducing food waste and environmental impacts.
What is upstream innovation process, and how can it help reduce plastic packaging waste?
Identifies 5 key ingredients that support a successful upstream innovation process, and form the root-cuase solution to plastic packaging waste. Includes the role of LCA.
What information do I need to know when desiging eco-responsbile packaging?
This guide includes information needed for designing eco-responsible packaging.
What are the environmental differences between reusable and single-use food containers?
A parametric LCA and cost model was used to analyse customer behavior effects on GHG emissions, primary energy, water use, and cost between primary reusable container and single use containers. Results showed reusable containers tended to have lower impacts across most metrics than comparable single use containers, however the beneficial differences were sensitive to variations to excess customer transportation and at-home container washing practices.
Flexibles
What are the key considerations when exploring moving from a multi-material flexible package to a mono-material strucutre?
Pathways to Mono-Material Flexible Plastic Packaging
Provides practical information and guidance on the design and manufacturing pathways that enable moving from multi-material flexible plastic packaging to more recyclable mono-material (PE & PP) flexible structures, when possible.
How to determine if plastic packaging is considered recyclable?
Recycle Check: Flexible Plastic Packaging
Includes a decision tree that helps to determine whether your plastic package is able to be properly sorted and recycled, and clarifies why that is (not) the case.
What are PFAS, and how are they different from PPAs?
Educating on the Differences Between PFAs and PPAs
This article highlights the differences between polymer processing aids (PPAs), such as fluoropolymers, from PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which traditionally are used as grease-proof coatings in paper food packaging.
What are some best practices for transitioning flexible plastics in CPG operations?
Best Practice: Transitioning Flexible Materials
This document acts as a guide in the process of transitioning flexible film in CPG operations - including the planning, testing and evaluating needed to ensure the new materials are compatable with existing equipment or if new equipment is required. It strives to align sustainability goals while meeting product quality and shelf-life requirements.
What is the proposed strategy and actions for moving to a circular economy for flexible packaging?
Flexible packaging: The urgent actions needed to deliver circular economy solutions
This work aims to support organisations in achieving their circular economy for plastics goals by providing a practical direction forward for flexible packaging.
Recycled Content
What are the key considerations when designing packaging with recycled content?
The Guide provides information on the key considerations around recycled content and how to design packaging that incorporates recycled content in order to drive demand for recycled materials. The Guide shares insights from experienced users of recycled content across the packaging supply chain to illuminate the opportunities and best practices for using recycled content in packaging.
Where can I get PCR certification?
APR provides PCR Certification to support a reliable, robust PCR market. Any plastics reclaimer generating PCR pellet or flake can participate in this program to provide customer assurances in the authenticity of their product.
Where can I learn more about the challenges of recycled content for the recycling industry?
The RMS is a voluntary, market-based tool to address some of the challenges faced by the recycling industry in incorporating higher amounts of recycled content into packaging.
What should be considered regarding the acceptability and use of PCR plastics in food packaging applications?
Guidelines for using recycled plastics in food packaging: Overview
These updated guidelines detail common recycling practices, with a focus on mechanical recycling processes as these are considered to represent the greatest potential health concern for food contact applications. They discuss key aspects of the recycling process such as the: limitations of use, source of feedstock (materials to be recycled), efficiency of the recycling process in the removal of chemical contaminants. These guidelines will assist recyclers, manufacturers and sellers of plastic materials in determining the acceptability and use of post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics in food packaging applications.
Reuse/Refill
What is required to implement reuse/refill system in Canada?
Study on Reuse and Refill of Plastic Packaging: National Ecosystem Scan
This Canadian study highlights the opportunities to implement reuse and refill systems as a way to reduce the amount of single-use plastics and move towards a more circular economy for plastic packaging.
What are some benefits, challenges and examples of Reuse models?
This Guide helps in understanding Reuse models by identifying key benefits, and mapping 69 examples. It includes the evaluation of over 100 initiatives, and interviews with over 50 experts. Descriptions of how different reuse models work, and typical implementation challenges are provided.
Is there a portal for sharing waste prevention solutions based on reuse and refill?
This is an open collaborative platform providing users access to practical guidance, tools and networks to take action and drive momentum for reuse solutions. The platform is still underdevelopment and will be released in phases during 2023/24.
How to design more successful reuable packaging programs?
Guidance for Reusable Packaging
Identifies key goals and assumptions for desiging more successful reusable packaging programs. Defines reusable packaging, highlights key questions and design criteria for consideration, and provides examples of best practices.
What are the barriers and opportunities for driving reuse/refill in Canada?
Identifies the barriers to reusable and refillable systems in Canada for consumer packaging, and what policymakers can do to reduce these barriers.
How can I help my consumers adopt to reusable packaging?
Based on consumer research using over 2000 UK consumers, this report outlines key opportunities to help adopt reusable/refillable packaging solutions, while offering helpful insight into prioritizing reuse model types, and shifting consumer behavior to help drive change to making reusable packaging more mainstream.
Elimination
How can I reduce single use plastic packaging and household food waste?
Pathway to Selling More Uncut Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Loose?
This study explores opportunities to reduce household food waste and single use plastic packaging in the UK, highlighting specific targets, timelines and next steps.
What are the priority plastic items targeted for elimination in Canada?
A Roadmap to Strengthen the Management of Single-Use and Disposable Plastics
This Roadmap seeks to reduce the negative environmental and socio-economic impacts of single-use and disposable plastics by listing priority items to consider for elimination, including select film and flexible packaging used in food and produce sectors, and specific packaging forms such as woven and net produce bags.
What are the problematic and unnecessary resins, components and formats identified for eliminated in the US?
Identifies the proposed 11 problematic and unnecessary resins, components, and formats to be eliminated in order to accelerate a circular economy for plastic packaging in the US.
Will elimination option actually solve the packaging pollution problem?
Why "Elimination" Won't Solve the Packaging Pollution Problem
Highlights that while some plastic packaging can be eliminated or reduced, most packaging plays the vitally important role of protecting and preserving the efficacy of products and eliminating food waste. And that shortsighted elimination policies will not solve the problem and, in many cases, will result in more environmental harm.
Recyclability
How do I know if my packaging is recyclable or not?
The Guide helps package designers measure each aspect of a package design against industry-accepted criteria to ensure that it is truly recycling compatible
What are the key design recommendations for the various packaging types?
Packaging Design for Recycling: A Global Recommendation for Circular Packaging Design
This resource considers a holistic view of packaging as essential for sustainable pacakaging development - including delivering on a circular economy and the reduction in the sources of ecological impact on the environment. Design for recycling is part of circular product design and represents an important basis for holistic sustainable assessment.
Where can I learn more about setting recycling and recycled content goals for my packaging?
The Walmart Playbook helps companies in setting recyclable and recycled content goals for their packaging.
Food Safety/Quality
Where can I learn more about the food safety, quality and regulatory requirements for produce vendors?
Loblaw's VOS & Guidance document was created to help support vendors who supply national brand and control brand produce in meeting food safety, quality and regulatory requirements.
What should be considered to ensure my food packaging is safe, and potential risks are minimized?
The new IFS Packaging Guideline helps food companies to identify potential risks and ensure their packaging is safe. It is a supporting document with the goal of improving the communication and cooperation between IFS certified companies and their packaging suppliers. Focus is on EU legislation.
Where can I learn more about rigid PET containers?
PET: Frequently Asked Questions
Answers FAQ regarding PET containers including safety and recycling related questions.
What are the environmental benefits of recycled PET versus virgin PET?
The Environmental Benefits of PET Recycling: LCA Study
Life cycle analyses have examined energy requirements and environmental impacts of producing both recycled PET (RPET) and new, virgin material (VPET). Results show that the production of RPET pellets has significantly better results for the environment than that of VPET in almost every impact category measured.
Compost/Biodegradables
What are pro-oxidant additive plastics, such as oxo-degradables, and are they really sustainable?
Study of pro-oxidant additive containing plastics i.e. plastics which are designed to degrade in the unmanaged natural environment (open-air, soil, aquatic) through oxidation and other processes which includes ?oxo-degradable plastics, oxo-biodegradable plastics and those containing biotransformation additives. The study indicates that there is no reliable data to substantiate the claim that OXO?s biodegrade in real conditions across a range of environments and climates.
What are the key issues and questions of concern regarding degradability and biodegradability of plastics?
PLASTICS Bioplastics Division outlines the key issues and questions of concern in identifying unsubstantiated and misleading product claims arround degradability and biodegradability of plastics.
Does Oxo-Degradable plastic packaging support a Circular Economy?
EMF summaries their position of applying a precautionary principle approach by banning oxo-degradable plastic packaging from the market until more extensive, independent third-party research and testing based on international standards (as used by ISO, CEN and ASTM), clearly confirms sufficient biodegradation of the plastic fragments in different environments, and over a time-scale short enough for particles not to accumulate in ecosystems.
What are the key principles for labelling compostable products?
Model Principles for Labelling Compostable Products
Lists the top 10 key principles of labelling compostable products
Substitution
What are the key steps to moving to compostable flexible packaging?
Flexible Packaging: Substitution for Compostable Flexibles. Design and Circulation
Identifies key actions businesses and policymakers can take to advance substitution to compostable flexibles.
What are bio-based plastics, and what role do they play in a plastics circular economy?
Methodology for the Assessment of Bioplastic Feedstocks
This study aligns with WWF's vision of no plastics in nature by 2023, by prioritizing the reduction of unnecessary plastics and ensuring the necessary plastics are being reused and recycled. Highlights that the responsible sourcing of bio-based plastics can play a role in infusing new materials into a circular plastics system to address unavoidable material loss and degradation during recycling operations.