A proposed federal plan to curb plastic packaging is on a timeline that Canadian fruit and vegetable producers are calling “problematic” and “unrealistic.” In August, consultations for the pollution prevention planning notice for primary food plastic packaging were launched as the federal government searched for ways to reduce the more than 4.4 million tons of plastic waste thrown away every year. The produce sector is concerned about the timelines of some of the proposed targets.
“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.” She insists the industry is working on ways to reduce its use of plastics, but currently, biodegradable alternatives are too expensive.
“The technology just isn’t there yet,” Steward said. “(The) biodegradable (plastic) industry is quite greenwashed right now.”
