PAID ADVERTISEMENT JUNE 2024 | INNOVATINGCANADA.CA
@MediaplanetCA
Please recycle
A SPECIAL INTEREST SECTION BY MEDIAPLANET
Circular Economy Q&A
Minister Lebouthillier Discusses Canada’s Vision for Ocean Sustainability Mediaplanet interviewed the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier about Canada’s ocean protection initiatives, including significant conservation investments, tackling illegal fishing, and aiming for 30 per cent protection by 2030. What is the importance of Ocean Protection in Canada? Canada is home to hardworking and vital fish harvesters and processors who, with our incredible resources, continue the proud tradition of producing some of the best quality fish and seafood products in the world. These are Canadians who get up early every morning to put quality fish and seafood on our plates, and who contribute to food security and a multi-billion-dollar industry that makes Canada the envy of the world. But as we know, the issues and challenges they are facing are numerous. With climate change and the resulting warming of the oceans, everything is changing underwater right now. We are not nearing consequential changes; we are living them. Our oceans play a complex but central role in regulating the Earth’s climate, and if we don’t protect the vital ocean ecosystems that sustain marine life, we will not have any fish left to fish. That’s only one of the many reasons why oceans protection is so consequential, and it’s why under our government, Fisheries and Read more online at Oceans Canada is working innovatingcanada.ca to protect 30 per cent of Canada’s oceans by 2030.
On March 5th, 2024, Minister Lebouthillier signed on behalf of Canada the “High-Seas Treaty”, or BBNJ Agreement, to adhere to a coordinated approach to establishing marine protected areas on the high seas beyond national jurisdiction alongside Canada’s international partners. And on March 7, 2024, minister Lebouthillier met with Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Administrator Dr. Richard W. Spinrad in Washington to discuss shared issues between Canada and the United States, including oceans protection. Protecting our oceans also means tackling illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing to maintain sustainable fisheries around the globe. In October 2023, DFO Fishery officers successfully completed the first Canadian-led high seas patrol to detect and deter IUU fishing in the North-Pacific alongside the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
How has Ocean Protection improved in Canada over the years? Since 2015, tremendous progress has been made — Canada went from protecting less than 1 per cent of its oceans to over 14.6 per cent by working closely with provincial, territorial,
and Indigenous gover nment s, a nd w it h t he support and contributions of coastal communities. To be clear, collaboration is key to implementing the nature-based solutions required to help address the impacts of climate change on our marine ecosystems, their habitats, and species. T h e s e c o m m i tments continue to be a priority, spearheaded by the most significant ocean conservation investments in a generation including: up to $800M over seven years to support up to four Indigenous-led conservation initiatives through the Project Finance for Permanence (2022), and $976.8M over five years to reach our marine conservation targets through the establishment of additional Marine protected areas (MPAs) and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs), such as marine refuges (2021).
Fisheries and Oceans Canada is working to protect 30 per cent of Canada’s oceans by 2030.
Sip Sustainably With the Canadian Beverage Association The Canadian Beverage Association engages consumers, producers, and the government to make non-alcoholic beverages part of the forthcoming circular economy.
B
Veronica Stephenson
ehind every cooling beverage Canadians will enjoy this summer is an organization championing sustainability in the beverage industry. Founded in 1942 to advocate for a competitive beverage industry, the Canadian Beverage Association (CBA) represents more than 60 brands of soft drinks, juices, teas, and other non-alcoholic beverages. Today, the CBA has turned it's focus towards environmental stewardship, leading proactive initiatives that advance a more circular economy. The next time you crack open a soft drink on a hot day or a sports drink after a challenging workout, remember that the CBA is working to close the loop on the circular economy — one sip at a time.
Pioneering sustainability with extended producer responsibility (ERP) The principle of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is central to much of Canada's approach to corporate sustainability. EPR means beverage producers are responsible for the packaging and containers — bottles, cans, or cartons — used to transport beverages. Recovering as many beverage containers as possible and increasing Canada’s recovery rate is critical. By getting every beverage container back, we can keep valuable materials, like plastic and aluminum, circulating in the market, not the landfill.
Investments in sustainability by the beverage sector is also an important part of their contributions to the circular economy. To that end, CBA members are working to design of products with their endof-life in mind. This increase in the recyclability of containers and packaging, significantly helps make recycling more streamlined for consumers and recyclers.
Engaging consumers in the recycling journey Consumers are crucial to the success of recycling programs. After all, once a beverage is in a consumer’s hands, even the best program is moot without their participation. That’s why making recycling accessible, easy to understand and rewarding is one of the association's top priorities. The CBA’s educational campaigns inform the public about the importance of recycling and how to do it correctly. Most recently, the association launched the “Made to be Remade” campaign to educate consumers about the importance of plastic, aluminum, and paper in the circular economy and inform decision-makers about the importance of harmonizing recycling systems across Canada.
Towards a National Recycling Framework Beverage container recovery rates across the country have steadily increased over time and currently
range f rom 6 5 per cent to 85 per cent. The supply chain has come a long way, but greater harmonization is required to secure Canada as a true leader in the circular economy. Today, recycling is still a patchwork of varied regulatory landscapes across the country. A national framework would streamline recycling for consumers, create a more predictable and stable market for recycled materials, and ultimately close the loop between consumers, recyclers, and producers. The federal government can act as a catalyst, fostering communication and understanding, but success ultimately lies at the provincial level. In Ontario, the province with the lowest beverage container recycling program, the CBA is working with supply chain stakeholders to develop a deposit-return system (DRS) for non-alcoholic beverage containers. A DRS is widely known to be the most effective way to motivate consumers to recycle their beverage containers and will be critical in meeting the province's 2030 recovery target.
Publisher: Ali Qaiser Business Development Manager: Maddie MacNeil Country Manager: Nina Theodorlis Production & Delivery Manager: Michael Taylor Creative Director: Kylie Armishaw Graphic & Web Designer: Christina Morgan Digital & Social Media Strategist: Kristen Neals Digital Traffic Strategist: Karm Rathod All images are from Getty Images unless otherwise credited. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve The National Post or its editorial departments. Send all inquiries to ca.editorial@mediaplanet.com.
Krista Scaldwell, President, CBA
To learn more about how the CBA is helping create a closedloop economy, visit madetoberemade.ca This article was sponsored by the Canadian Beverage Association.