Are microplastics banned in Canada?
Microplastics are a growing concern for the health of our environment. In recent years new policies have been or are being developed in Canada that address this category of plastic pollution. Much of that is thanks to the data and evidence accumulated by the Canadian public.
For instance, there are regulations already in place that target specific subsets of microplastics, like the 2019 ban on microbeads in toiletries. There are also regulations being developed that focus on larger plastics that can generate microplastics when they accidentally end up in the environment.
To protect our health and our environment, documenting plastic pollution in the Canadian environment by community scientists, as well as public support, will be essential in further shaping regulations and evaluating their impacts, while also maintaining the momentum for positive change on plastic pollution around the world.
“In situations where plastics do not serve an essential purpose, there are opportunities to eliminate uses that generate unnecessary microplastic waste,” explains Dr. Anna Posacka Ocean Diagnostics Chief Scientific Officer.
There are many sources of microplastics to consider
To understand regulations that address microplastic pollution, it is essential to understand that a variety of microplastics exist.
There are two classes of microplastics: primary and secondary. Primary microplastics are intentionally manufactured as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm. They are often used as abrasives or as pellets to form larger plastic items (i.e., “nurdles”). Secondary microplastics are formed from the weathering or fragmentation of larger plastic items, like consumer goods.
Both primary and secondary microplastics need to be considered in a holistic approach to regulating microplastic pollution in Canada.
Plastic pollution regulations in Canada
“In situations where plastics do not serve an essential purpose, there are opportunities to eliminate uses that generate unnecessary microplastic waste,” explains Dr. Anna Posacka Ocean Diagnostics Chief Scientific Officer.
In Canada, the actions taken thus far are limited to a few types of microplastics. For example,
In November 2018: Canada adopted a strategy for Zero Plastic Waste. Phase 1 began in 2019 and phase 2 in 2020.
In July 2019: Canada banned the sale and manufacturing microbeads in toiletries.
In May 2021: Canada added plastic-manufactured items to its list of toxic substances on the Canadian Environment Protection Act’s schedule 1.
In June 2022: Canada banned six single-use plastic items.
In February 2022: Canada launched a public consultation on a regulation that would require plastic packaging to contain at least 50% recycled content by 2030.
The types of microplastics addressed in these regulations include:
Primary microplastic pollution from microbeads in toiletries, which are addressed through the microbead ban.
Secondary microplastics formed from the breakdown of single-use plastics left in the environment, which are addressed through Canada’s single-use plastic bans and further Zero Plastic Waste initiatives.
There are more opportunities to cut unnecessary microplastic waste and the Canadian public is at the forefront of this change.
Example 1: Nurdles
Pre-production plastic pellets or “nurdles” are another group of primary microplastics. These can end up in the environment due to accidental spillage. They have been found by researchers and community scientists in Lake Ontario around Toronto, on Vancouver Island and around the world.
Currently, there are no targeted laws governing nurdle spillage, but actions to tackle this type of microplastic are being considered under the Canada action plan on zero plastic waste.
According to the UofT Trash Team, some plastic manufacturers have voluntarily committed to reducing their nurdle leakage, but voluntary action may not be enough.
Community members can help by assessing the presence of microplastics in their neighbourhood, engaging with decision-makers and in doing so further influencing policy and actions.
Example 2: Polystyrene Flotation
Canada works toward policy to reduce marine pollution from polystyrene floatation
Expanded polystyrene beads can form secondary microplastics when they break off large floatation devices in the marine environment. They have been found on many Canadian beaches and are challenging to clean up.
Our recent pilot study, fuelled by community science volunteers and a partnership with Environment and Clim