Canada’s Zero Plastic Waste Strategy, announced in December 2017, set in motion a national framework aimed at eliminating plastic waste through collaboration, innovation, and systemic change. For the fast-moving consumer goods sector, the strategy signaled a shift from voluntary recycling initiatives toward structured partnerships that could deliver measurable improvements in plastic recovery and circularity. By early 2018, firms across the packaging value chain faced mounting expectations to align with the strategy’s objectives, not merely through compliance but through proactive engagement in pilots and data-driven transparency measures.
One of the earliest opportunities for industry players came through joining open recycling consortium pilots such as those facilitated by the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC). The CIAC’s Recyc-Canada data portal offered a platform for manufacturers, converters, and brand owners to contribute packaging recovery data, collaborate on technology trials, and benchmark performance across jurisdictions. Participation in these initiatives allowed FMCG suppliers to demonstrate good faith efforts in addressing the plastic waste challenge while also gaining access to collective resources that could accelerate innovation in materials management. In practical terms, joining a consortium pilot meant formalizing commitments to share data on packaging volumes, material compositions, and recovery outcomes, while also engaging in joint problem-solving around design, collection, and reprocessing.
A crucial element of meeting the Zero Plastic Waste Strategy’s aims was integrating municipal recycling rates and infrastructure performance data into corporate assessments of packaging recovery. Fortunately, Statistics Canada provided open datasets that firms could use to correlate their packaging footprint with local recycling system effectiveness. By overlaying sales distribution data with municipal recovery rates, companies could identify geographic areas where packaging was most and least likely to be recovered, providing a basis for targeted interventions. This approach required cooperation between supply chain, sustainability, and analytics teams to develop models that could translate municipal data into actionable insights at the product and supplier level.
The move toward supplier scorecards represented an important mechanism for driving accountability and continuous improvement across the FMCG supply chain. By Q4 2018, companies were encouraged to publish their first “zero waste” supplier scorecards, setting out baseline data on packaging material choices, recyclability rates, and participation in recovery schemes. Developing these scorecards involved defining clear metrics, sourcing reliable data, and engaging with suppliers to validate inputs and identify opportunities for improvement. The process was as much about building relationships and fostering shared responsibility as it was about generating reports for external audiences. Suppliers who engaged constructively in the process could position themselves as preferred partners for brands and retailers seeking to meet ambitious waste reduction targets.
Building the data and governance structures to support supplier scorecarding and consortium participation was not without challenges. Differences in municipal reporting practices, variability in material recovery facilities’ capabilities, and gaps in supplier transparency all contributed to complexity. Nonetheless, companies that invested early in harmonizing data sources, establishing common definitions, and automating reporting processes found themselves better able to adapt as policy frameworks evolved. Furthermore, these investments created spillover benefits in the form of enhanced customer trust, improved operational efficiencies, and stronger alignment with emerging regulatory requirements at the provincial and federal levels.
The Zero Plastic Waste Strategy’s emphasis on partnership extended beyond individual firms and sectoral initiatives. It called for the creation of integrated ecosystems where industry, government, academia, and civil society could work together to design, test, and scale solutions. Early adopters within the FMCG sector who embraced this collaborative ethos gained credibility as leaders in sustainability and innovation. Their participation helped shape the direction of pilot programs, inform the development of national standards, and build the knowledge base needed to support the transition to a circular plastics economy.
As 2018 progressed, it became clear that the strategy’s ambitions would require sustained effort, substantial investment, and a willingness to experiment with new business models. The initial steps taken during this period—joining pilots, integrating municipal data, and launching supplier scorecards—formed the foundation for more comprehensive approaches to plastic waste reduction that would unfold in the years to come. For policymakers and analysts observing these developments, the experience underscored the importance of data transparency, cross-sector collaboration, and the alignment of voluntary and regulatory mechanisms in driving systemic change.