Ontario’s Circular Economy Innovation Lab releases a vision for the future of printed paper and packaging in a low-carbon, circular economy
Toronto, ON, February 8, 2017 – The Natural Step Canada’s Ontario Circular Economy Innovation Lab (CEIL) is pleased to release its vision, framework and innovation pathways for the future of printed paper and packaging. This report outlines how we can achieve a waste-free future for printed paper and packaging in Ontario’s emerging circular economy.
This publication is the result of CEIL’s Printed Paper and Packaging Rapid Lab which brought together 25 public and private sector leaders in a three-month “innovation lab” process to rethink how Ontario produces, uses and manages printed paper and packaging materials. These materials – ranging from bills, booklets and brochures to beverage and food containers, plastic bags and aluminum foil – are everywhere and impact every sector of the economy.
“The work of the Rapid Lab is significant in its ability to engage range of interests involved in a product’s lifecycle” says Catherine McVitty, Sustainable Living Manager at Unilever and a participant in the process. “It’s not often that manufacturers, municipalities, retailers and waste management businesses to have the opportunity to work collaboratively like this.”
The participants developed the vision over the course of three intensive workshops aimed at assessing the current state of printed paper and packaging in Ontario and the opportunities (and imperatives) of the circular economy.
"The vision is very ambitious, but it reflects where we need to go as an industry to thrive in the future," says Ian Ferguson, Vice-President of Chantler Packaging Inc. "Everyone in the Rapid Lab pulled together to create a document that we can all support and be proud of."
The publication calls for printed paper and packaging, and the entire system that supports it, to be designed for:
Sustainability: Maximizing value and utility by supporting multiple cycles of use, refurbishing, re-purposing and recycling in closed loop systems; reducing materials where possible; re-integrating biological materials to the biosphere; respecting social equity; and aligning with science-based principles of sustainability; and,
Functionality: Meeting market and regulatory requirements for function, branding, efficiency, safety, environment, performance and cost throughout the printed paper and packaging lifecycle.
This document also presents a framework for understanding the circular economy and four innovation pathways that are essential for achieving the vision for printed paper and packaging. These include:
- Rethinking waste and creating a circular economy culture in Ontario.
- Optimizing circular design and production processes for printed paper and packaging.
- Strengthening province-wide material recovery systems for all printed paper and packaging.
- Adopting public and private sector policies that support the circular economy.
“CEIL’s work will play a key role in helping Ontario to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and move to a circular economy as envisioned in the Climate Change Action Plan and Waste-Free Ontario Act” says Chris Lindberg, CEIL’s director. Ultimately, this is a multi-billion dollar opportunity for Ontario that will create thousands of new jobs and help us remain competitive in the global marketplace. ”
“Developing and investing in solutions for a circular economy is crucial to achieving a waste-free Ontario” says Glen Murray, Ontario Minister of Environment and Climate Change. “I applaud the Circular Economy Innovation Lab as it continues to work towards reducing waste and recovering resources in all sectors. Through continued partnerships, I am confident our vision for a circular, low-carbon economy can be achieved.”
Next up for CEIL is a 12-month fellowship program that allows Ontario innovators to tackle the circular economy across even more systems and sectors. Recruitment for the fellowship will begin in March with the group coming together in the fall. For more information visit www.circulareconomylab.com.
The publication from CEIL’s Printed Paper and Packaging Rapid Lab is available at www.circulareconomylab.ca. CEIL is also offering a free webinar Building the circular economy for paper and packaging in Ontario from 12:00 -1:00PM on February 21, 2017 (Register by clicking here).
ABOUT THE ONTARIO CIRCULAR ECONOMY INNOVATION LAB (CEIL)
CEIL brings together private and public sector leaders and innovators from across Ontario to generate, test and implement circular economy solutions. Over the next four years CEIL will provide a platform for ongoing experimentation, innovation and collaboration leading to tangible breakthroughs that support Ontario’s transition to a circular economy.
CEIL is powered by The Natural Step Canada with support from IKEA Canada, Unilever, the Ontario Waste Management Association, Owens Illinois Inc, Canadian Tire, Canada’s National Brewers, Smart Prosperity Institute, Celestica, the Bank of Montreal Financial Group, Interface, WP Warehousing Inc., the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation and the Government of Ontario.
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Nicholas Schulz
CEIL Communications
647-883-2719