The Trudeau government’s plan to curtail the use of plastic packaging has received criticism from fruit and vegetable producers, who are calling it “unrealistic.”
Ottawa launched consultations for the pollution prevention planning notice to see how they could reduce plastic waste on primary food packaging in August.
Plastic currently contributes about 4.4 million tonnes of waste annually, according to CTV News.
“We hear it from Canadians from coast to coast to coast, that they hate seeing so much plastic wrapping,” said Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault.
According to the targets on the Environment and Climate Change Canada website, “Fresh fruits and vegetables are to be distributed and sold in bulk and/or plastic-free packaging” with a target of “75% by 2026 and 95% by 2028.”
These target timelines have some members of the produce sector concerned.
“It’s probably not realistic,” said Tilly Stewart, director of citrus at Star Produce in Calgary. “The way it’s currently written will change the entire global food system.”
Star Produce uses plastic to package fresh cut fruit to be sold in grocery stores.
Stewart said her industry is already looking into ways that they can reduce plastic but for the time being, biodegradable options are too expensive.
“The technology just isn’t there yet,” said Steward. “(The) biodegradable (plastic) industry is quite greenwashed right now.”
The government’s proposed plan to meet the plastic reduction targets will likely pass an additional 30% of cost onto the consumer, according to a report by the Canadian Produce Marketing Association.
The proposed targets will require packaging materials which are more expensive and will create a less efficient shipping system that also raises the overall level of food waste.
“Everybody gets upset about the wrap on cucumbers,” said CPMA President Ron Lemaire. “The challenge you have is you have two days at home with your cucumber, as opposed to 15 days.”
Senior program manager for plastics at Environmental Defence, Karen Wirsig, said the industry’s projections regarding food loss are false.
“There is absolutely no evidence that we’re seeing a reduction in food loss and waste through the whole supply chain, because of that single use packaging,” said Wirsig.
The industry is currently looking into how they can reuse plastic packaging and have it kept within the supply chain.
On Dec. 20, a federal ban on the sale of plastic checkout bags, cutlery and other single-use plastics will come into effect as part of the “zero plastic waste by 2030” strategy, implemented by the Trudeau government.
