Federal Database for Plastics: Identified Plastic Types and Associated Products
Environment and Climate Change Canada is drafting a guidance document to assist industry in preparing reports for a new Federal Plastics Registry. The Registry, aiming to eliminate plastic waste by 2030, will cover a wide range of businesses and plastic products.
The Registry's scope is defined by Schedule 1 of the notice, which provides a list of resins involved in the manufacturing of plastics and products containing such resins. Schedule 1 is divided into four parts, based on the types of plastics to report.
Part 1 of Schedule 1 lists 23 plastic resins according to the North American Product Classification System (NAPCS) Canada 2022 Version 1.0. These resins include virgin fossil-based and bio-based resins, as well as post-consumer or post-industrial recycled resins.
Businesses who manufacture or import these resins must report annually on the type of resin, its source, the amount manufactured, imported, and placed on the market in Canada, and how these amounts were calculated.
Part 2 of Schedule 1 expands the list, including four plastic resin sources. Businesses who produce plastic products, plastic packaging, or packaging at industrial, commercial, or institutional facilities must report yearly on the resins used in manufacturing, amounts for different waste streams, and calculation methods.
Moreover, businesses who generate product waste or packaging waste must report yearly on amounts sent for diversion or disposal and calculation methods. Businesses who provide services for plastics or plastic products must also report yearly on amounts subject to certain activities and calculation methods.
The rules for the Registry are outlined in a notice published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on April 20, 2024. Reporting requirements for businesses involved in plastics and plastic products will begin in 2025, involving determining reporting obligations, establishing data collection systems, engaging with producer responsibility organizations, and monitoring regulatory developments.
Schedule 2 of the Notice provides a broad definition of "producer," including manufacturers, brand owners, importers, retailers, and marketplace facilitators. The application deadline for reporting obligations related to the specified plastic resins and plastic products refers to the date set by the relevant regulatory framework, often aligned with regulatory deadlines for substance registration or reporting under EU chemical and packaging laws; however, no direct date or detailed timing information was found in the search results.
Part 3 of Schedule 1 sets out a list of rigid and flexible plastic packaging in various subcategories, while Part 4 broadens the scope of the Registry with a diverse and extensive range of plastic products.
The Government of Canada's Federal Plastics Registry aims to drive transparency, promote responsible production and consumption, and help achieve the goal of eliminating plastic waste by 2030.
