The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) responded to the Canadian government’s most recent move to rule that plastic manufactured items should be considered toxic substances.
Tony Radoszewski, president and CEO of PLASTICS, said the move could have wide-ranging negative effects for cross-border trade and employment in both the U.S. and Canada.
“Our two countries are powerful plastics economies,” he said. “This development is a symbolic gesture to activists and threatens tens of billions of dollars of commerce. The idea that plastic is toxic is the true danger. Such a label could have ramifications far beyond some single-use items. It could fast-track more bans on other consumer products that are fully recyclable. Our main concern should be improving recycling.”
“Banning a material that has transformed modern medicine in the name of public health is absurd, especially during a pandemic necessitating plastic gloves, masks, ventilators, vaccine packaging and more. When we’re so close to real solutions, we shouldn’t pursue policies that reverse course on progress and punish ordinary people.”
The Canadian government published an order-in-council in the Canada Gazette Part II on Wednesday that added plastic manufactured items to Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. With this designation, Canada could move to ban some types of plastic products.
