Circular Economy

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Circular Economy

INSIGHT

Innovation and Collaboration for a Circular Economy in Canada Jocelyn Bleriot

O

ur economy is linear — we extract raw materials and turn them into products, which eventually get thrown away.

Recycling and efficiency measures are welcome, but they don't change this logic — they only slow things down. Ultimately, the materials in our economy have a one-way journey to landfills, incinerators, or to become pollution in the environment.

This ‘take, make, waste’ linear economy, which relies on creating value mostly by depleting finite resources, cannot work in the long term and is fuelling the greatest global challenges facing us today, including the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.

The circular economy, by conJocelyn Bleriot trast, builds economic and natural Executive Lead capital. It eliminates waste and polInstitutions, lution, keeps products and materials Governments, & Cities, in use, and regenerates natural sysEllen MacArthur tems. It gives us the option to grow Foundation prosperity, jobs, and resilience while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, waste, and pollution. A repair cafe that helps you fix your phone, to a more durably-designed T-shirt whose materials can be repurposed, a building that’s designed for disassembly, or packaging that's grown rather than made — these are examples of what makes up the circular economy.

The transition to a circular economy is an innovation and competitiveness agenda that requires collaboration from all stakeholders.

Designing for a circular economy is one of the great creative opportunities of our time, and it doesn't stop at the product level — it's systemic and compels us to think in terms of materials, processes, and business models.

The circular economy has garnered significant momentum in Canada. At the federal level, the Canadian government is hosting the

2021 edition of the landmark circular economy event of the year, the World Circular Economy Forum.

This gathering will see the launch of a report authored by the Council of Canadian Academies, commissioned by Environment and Climate Change Canada, to examine the potential of a transition to a circular economy for the country.

At the provincial level, Quebec created a circular economy platform in 2018 and saw recently saw the inauguration of the Center for Intersectoral Studies and Research on the Circular Economy (CERIEC), a circular economy research centre with an initial $2.1 million of private funding. In February, the Quebec Research Fund announced a $5 million budget for the establishment of a provincial research network on the circular economy.

By highlighting the economic rationale of a circular economy, identifying challenges and opportunities, and coordinating efforts, the province is taking a pioneering role in the transition in Canada.

At the city level, Toronto has an aspiration to become zero-waste and to be Ontario’s first city with a circular economy. Through the city’s Circular Economy and Innovation unit, Toronto is working to incorporate circular

Total current global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions

55% Energy

The transition to a circular economy is an innovation and competitiveness agenda that requires collaboration from all stakeholders. economy principles in its procurement processes and through various projects.

Progress isn't limited to the public sector.

In the plastics industry, the recently-launched Canada Plastics Pact brings together more than 50 organizations — including businesses from across the Canadian plastics value chain, alongside government institutions and NGOs — all working towards a common vision for a circular economy for plastic in Canada.

Through collaboration of the public and private sector, the enabling conditions can be built for circular innovation to thrive and scale, allowing Canada, its provinces, and its territories to find a path to better growth, benefiting its people, businesses, and environment.

How the circular economy helps tackle climate change

45%

Products and food

Design out waste and pollution to reduce GHG emissions across the value chain Keep products and materials in use to retain the energy embodied within them Regenerate natural systems to sequester carbon in soil and products

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Material Economics, Completing the Picture: How the circular economy tackles climate change (2019)

Publisher: Brendan Bromwich Business Development Manager: Julia Colavecchia Country Manager: Nina Theodorlis Content and Production Manager: Raymond Fan Designer: Filip Jansky Web Editor: Karthik Talwar All images are from Getty Images unless otherwise credited. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve National Post or its editorial departments. Send all inquiries to ca.editorial@mediaplanet.com.

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Please recycle

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INSPIRATION

New Recyclable Paper-Based Packaging Will Cut Plastic Waste The latest innovation in coffee packaging from Club Coffee is set to roll out at grocers across Canada this fall.

Michele Sponagle

C

anadians’ love for coffee runs deep. It's the number-one consumed beverage in this country, even more than water. And we rank fifth in the world for consumption per capita. Java fans have high standards when it comes to their brew of choice — not just in taste and freshness, but in their desire for environmentally-friendly packaging, too.

The beginning of a revolutionary new idea

Building on the success of the compostable pod, Club Coffee saw an opportunity in giving coffee lovers a new type of sustainable packaging to eliminate the multi-layered, plastic-lined coffee bags, plastic tubs, composite cans, and tins that had barely evolved in decades. Gemmiti recognized that Swedenbased AR Packaging had developed a packaging system called Boardio® that looked Embracing new sustainable like it could be adapted to meet coffee needs. packaging options AR Packaging is recognized as a leader in That’s where Club Coffee comes in. Though packaging, with 30 plants in 13 countries and you may not recognize the name, it's a key with deep expertise in creating sustainable, to the success of many of North America’s innovative solutions for its clients. best-known coffee brands. As Collaboration between the two companChief Innovation Officer Claudio ies resulted in a packaging system that uses Gemmiti explains, “We're the paperboard to deliver a consumer-preferred little guy behind the big guys. package that's recyclable and ready for upcycWe’re proud to have the responsling into other consumer goods —the epitome ibility and trust of leading coffee of a circular economy. Made from wood fibre brands to take care of their from sustainably-managed forests, Boardio® needs, from roasting the beans ticks a lot of boxes for consumers (freshness, Claudio Gemmiti to packaging the final product. convenience, and paper-based, recyclable) Chief Innovation We have the expertise to help while reducing the environmental footprint Officer, them grow their business through of packaged coffee.

Club Coffee innovation. We understand conDespite the challenges of the pandemic, sumer trends and translate them Club Coffee has taken just 14 months to get into new opportunities.” the new packaging into production. “We're High on that list of trends is the consumer confident that their launch of a completely desire for sustainable options that reduce new coffee packaging system in North plastic waste. Club Coffee has shown that it's America will inspire other companies to serious about tackling that challenge. In 2016, make a game-changing move towards a it introduced PürPod100™, the more circular society,” says Johan world’s first certified compostable Werme, AR Packaging’s Segment coffee pod for the most common Sales Director.

North American single-serve The intensified focus on plastic brewers. It was a resounding sucpollution in recent years creates a cess, recognized with numerous demand for new innovative packawards for reducing plastic and aging solutions, Werme notes. coffee waste going into landfills.

Club Coffee’s move to the paperThat innovation was part of based Boardio® package meets Johan Werme an overall Club Coffee circular those demands with minimized Segment Sales Director, economy-based approach that use of plastics and reduced carbon AR Packaging includes responsibly sourcing emissions while ensuring excelhigh-quality beans and designing lent consumer convenience and sustainable, functional packmaintaining the excellent protecaging. “From the CEO and president and all tion of the coffee. “Club Coffee is a textbook through the company, we’re committed to example of how to do a market introduction innovation,” says Gemmiti. “We invest in of a new packaging solution,” says Werme. people and resources, and aim to be pion“We enjoy our close collaboration with the eers. We’re seen as leaders with a dedicated Club Coffee team very much. Together, we team of experts who are well-versed in coffee, can drive change.” packaging, and engineering.”

A powerful strategic partnership Consumers will find coffee products in Boardio® packaging at Loblaw-owned grocery stores starting in October and rolling into 2022, according to Kathlyne Ross, Vice President, Product Development and Innovation at Loblaw Companies. Loblaws will be the first to introduce Boardio® to Canadian shoppers, using it for about 35 stock-keeping units (SKUs), including the coffee roster of President’s Choice® and no name®. The strategic partnership Kathlyne Ross Vice President, between Loblaws and Club Coffee Product Development makes groundbreaking develop& Innovation, ments like Boardio® possible.

Loblaw Companies “It’s really the perfect marriage,” Ross says. “Club Coffee loves to be first in market for packaging innovations and we strive to be first in market for product innovations. It’s at the centre of everything we do.”

This isn’t the first time that Loblaws has teamed up with Club Coffee to shake up the category. It worked closely with Club Coffee on the creation of the PürPod100™ certified compostable coffee pods. That type of project is very important to Loblaws. “We have a long history of corporate social responsibility, trying to make a difference with our products — for the environment and for the consumer,” says Ross. “It started over a decade ago with sustainable seafood and has grown since.”

Consumers have made it clear that they want to use less plastic. “They're looking for the total package,” Ross explains. “Not just what’s inside or whether they’re enjoying it but knowing that President’s Choice®, for example, is a brand they can trust. They can feel safe knowing that they can throw an empty coffee package in the recycling bin as easily as a milk carton without having to pull Find out more about Club Coffee’s revolutionary it apart. It’s a much clearer message and offers new approach to coffee ease of use — something they’re looking for packaging at clubcoffee.ca/ from our products.” sustainability/ Loblaw stores sell tons of coffee, literally, sustainable-packaging. so this shift to paper-based packaging is expected to have a significant impact because This article was sponsored by of the sheer volume. The retailer could divert Club Coffee, over 500,000 pounds a year from landfills AR Packaging, and with this initiative. Until Boardio® hits Loblaw Companies. grocery shelves, the excitement is building among the partners involved. “It’s going to be fantastic,” says Ross.

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INFOGRAPHIC

The Canadian Paper Packaging Industry Focuses on Environmental Sustainability

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he Paper and Paperboard Packaging Environmental Council (PPEC)'s members include more than 30 paper mills and converters operating across Canada, who manufacture paper packaging, such as cardboard boxes, cartons, and bags, that are used and recycled every day.

PPEC is proud that paper packaging is one of Canada's original circular economies, and the infographic illustrates how packaging is made, and continuously remade into new paper-based packaging, through recycling.

While most paper packaging made in Canada is produced with recycled content, the paper fibres it was originally made from came from a tree. Less than half of

one percent of Canadian commercial forests are harvested for paper packaging. Every hectare that's harvested must be successfully regenerated, and more than 800 seedlings are planted in Canada every minute.

A mill produces the raw material used to make packaging, using mostly recycled content, and responsibly-sourced wood chips and sawmill residues. It's then formed into big rolls of paper and sent to a converter, where it's made into packaging products. Once used by the customer, it's recycled, making its way back to the mill to start the process over again, and remade into new paper packaging.

Paper packaging:

Mills: Produce the basis for paper packaging

Converters: Convert paper into packaging

• Produce containerboard,

• Produce the recyclable products

One of Canada's original circular economies Sustainably-managed forests

•

boxboard, and kraft paper Majority use 100% recycled content

• Add new fibre to the mix when necessary

Visit PPEC at ppec-paper.com and follow us on social media (Twitter: @ppec_paper, LinkedIn: Paper & Paperboard Packaging Environmental Council) for more information on the environmental sustainability of the Canadian paper packaging industry.

This article was sponsored by the Paper and Paperboard Packaging Environmental Council.

we're familiar with

• Corrugate (cardboard) boxes • Paperboard (cereal, cracker) boxes • Paper bags (sugar, flour)

• Leftover materials are recycled

• Trees are a renewable resource • Every hectare of commercial forest harvested in Canada must be regenerated

• < 0.5% of Canadian commercial forests are harvested for paper packaging annually

The Paper and Paperboard Packaging Environmental Council represents over 90% of the Canadian paper packaging industry on environmental issues.

To learn more about PPEC, visit ppec-paper.com.

Recyclers: Recover and recycle

Customers: Send paper packaging for recycling

• Recover and recycle paper

• Commercial (retail, grocery, office) • Industrial (foodservice, manufacturing) • Residential (blue box) • Return paper packaging back

packaging

• Materials are collected, sorted,

baled, and sent back to the mills

• Fibres can be recycled up to 10 times

INSIGHT

PROFILE

Bioplastics Help Turn Food Waste Into Valuable Compost

What’s Inside Counts

Food waste accounts for about eight percent of humangenerated greenhouse gas emissions. Novamont is helping to solve that problem through compostable plastics.

Amy Victoria

Anne Papmehl

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A new Mater-Bi compostable coating to provide water and grease resistance to paper cups and packaging.

to circular recycling loop

ovamont's specialty is compostable packaging materials through the MATER-BI family of products. Fully compostable produce bags and waste collection bags made with MATER-BI can be used to divert food waste such as fruit cores, vegetable peelings, and proteins from landfill and incineration. MATER-BI compostable bags also make the task of collecting food waste from homes and kitchens easier and cleaner.

Rather than food waste languishing in a landfill and producing methane gas — a greenhouse gas that’s 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide — what was once considered waste can now be transformed into compost, a valuable commodity that nourishes soil, captures carbon, and retains water for plant growth while improving the productivity of Canada's agricultural lands plus the health of plants in many home gardens.

Novamont also promotes the role of bioplastics in helping to solve the food waste problem through education and partnerships.

The company offers a free iPhone and iPad app called Food Scrap Recycling Truck to teach children about the value of food waste recycling. Novamont is also a Core Partner of Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF)’s Food initiative and a member of EMF's CE100 Network, which aims to accelerate the adoption of circular economy practices through resource efficiency. Novamont recently joined the United Nations’ Global Compact network, a leadership platform for the development and implementation of responsible corporate policies and practices, and was recently awarded the prestigious B Corp Certification with a top-tier ranking.

Novamont has its roots in an ambitious project to integrate chemistry, agriculture, and the environment that began in Italy over 30 years ago. Today, Novamont is a world leader in bioplastics and bio-based products development and production.

Novamont has been supplying MATER-BI resin to leading Canadian manufacturers of compostable waste bags, produce bags, and biodegradable mulch film for agriculture for over 16 years and recently developed a new compostable paper coating material.

To learn more about how Novamont can support your company’s transition to the circular economy, visit novamont.com/eng.

This article was sponsored by Novamont.

Why recycle electronics with Recycle My Electronics programs? Amy Victoria, the Director of Marketing and Communications of Recycle My Electronics believes What’s Inside Counts.™

M

any of the resources inside our electronics, including plastic, glass, gold, silver, and copper, can be reused continuously without losing their properties. By recycling electronics, resources are recovered, recycled, and reused — reducing our overall carbon footprint and lessening our dependence on mining for new resources. Recycling with the Electronic Products Recycling Association (EPRA)/Recycle My Electronics programs also diverts e-waste from illegal export and Canadian landfills.

Safety and security count Responsible recycling ensures the safe and secure destruction of personal data stored on hardware. We all have important information stored on our devices, and the security of our personal data is a valid concern. When you drop off electronics to an EPRA/ Recycle My Electronics drop-off point, devices are quickly processed, shredded, and recycled into small particles so that they can be put back into the manufacturing supply chain.

The importance of accessibility EPRA/Recycle My Electronics programs have a vast network of over 2,500 collection locations across Canada consisting of return-to-retail locations and authorized drop-off points committed to recycling endof-life electronics in a responsible manner. In fact, there’s a drop-off location within 30 minutes of most Canadians.

Electronic devices are filled with reusable resources. Proper recycling allows these resources to be reused and put back into the manufacturing supply chain.

Recycle My Electronics offers safe and secure recycling for your personal data protection, your business, and the environment.

To find out what and where to recycle visit, recyclemyelectronics.ca.

Whether it’s business or residential, by recycling electronics with EPRA/Recycle My Electronics, you’re helping to: Ensure the safe and secure destruction of personal data.

Protect the health and safety of workers and handlers.

Divert e-waste from Canadian landfills.

Prevent e-waste from being illegally exported or handled by irresponsible recyclers, decreasing environmental issues for the planet.

Reuse the infinitely recyclable resources from within devices that can be put back into the manufacturing supply chain, conserving natural resources.