Canada starts consultation to combat plastic waste in textile sector

Steven Guilbeault, Canada’s minister of environment and climate change, has initiated a consultation to gather feedback on developing a roadmap to tackle plastic waste and pollution from the textile and apparel sector. This move is part of the government of Canada’s comprehensive strategy to reduce plastic waste and pollution and enhance the circularity of the textile and apparel industry, ensuring these materials remain in the economy and out of the environment.

Textiles are the fifth-largest category of plastic waste sent to landfills in Canada. Additionally, synthetic clothing sheds plastic microfibres through regular wear and washing, contributing to microplastic pollution. The consultation document suggests a waste-management approach that retains textiles and apparel in the circular economy for as long as possible, focusing on redesign, reduction, reuse, repair, and recycling over energy recovery and landfilling, the Canadian government said in a news release.

Until September 1, 2024, Canadians and interested parties are invited to comment on the consultation document and provide feedback. The comments will aid in developing a draft roadmap to be published later this year.

In Canada, there is currently very limited collection and recycling of textiles, with approximately 98 per cent of plastic textile waste ending up in landfills. Annually, about 878 tonnes of microfibres are released from synthetic textiles during laundering into fresh and marine waters in Canada and the US. In 2020, around 290 kilotons of synthetic textile products (such as polyester, nylon, PVC, and acrylic) were purchased in Canada, with approximately 280 kilotons discarded as waste, according to Statistics Canada's Physical Flow Account for Plastic Material.

Since 2018, the government of Canada has collaborated with organisations and key stakeholders to advance research on microfibre pollution, assess challenges and opportunities to reduce waste, and pilot recycling and waste diversion programs in the textile and apparel sector. Canada’s Federal Plastics Registry will collect data on plastics in textiles, including quantities placed on the market and their end-of-life management. Collaborating with the textile and apparel sector to develop and implement targeted solutions is crucial to Canada’s ambitious plan to reduce plastic waste and pollution. This plan aims to transition to a circular economy for plastics through a range of actions across the plastics lifecycle.

"After welcoming the world last April in Ottawa for the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, we are more committed than ever to ending plastic waste and pollution in our own country. We are now reflecting on how we can prevent textile and apparel waste from going to landfill, being incinerated, or leaking into the environment as pollution. Addressing plastic waste and pollution in all sectors of our economy is the key to protecting the planet and creating a greener and prosperous future, while keeping plastics in the economy and out of the environment," said Steven Guilbeault.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)