Plastics are everywhere in the food industry, from component parts in operations to packaging, wrapping during distribution and single-use consumer materials. As Canada moves toward a circular economy without plastic waste, many food and beverage entrepreneurs are wondering just how to begin the process of eliminating plastic from their operations. Click here to see part one of the series on circular economies.
Participants
Q: Have you audited your operations to see where waste from single-use plastics still exists?
Barry Friesen: Yes, we have. We have identified plastic used in agriculture from coast to coast in our report Agricultural Plastic Characterization and Management on Canadian Farms. As shown in the report, there are about 62,000 tonnes of plastics estimated to be used in agriculture each year in Canada. The vast majority of these materials are single-use plastics, though there are several reusable systems in use today. For instance, 40 per cent of pesticides used in Canada are delivered in a reusable system. The seed industry utilizes reusable boxes in many instances, or it is often delivered in bulk where no plastics are used. We have done this research because our goal is to achieve zero plastic waste to landfill in agriculture. To do so, we needed to understand what is being generated and where.
Brianne Miller: Yes. Nada offers sustainably sourced foods, zero waste lifestyle products, and a package-free shopping experience. In 2020 students in the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at UC Santa Barbara conducted a research study on our circular model. The goal for this study was to quantify the carbon footprint of a package-free grocery store and identify additional opportunities for emission reductions. It found that Nada has a lower carbon footprint because of programs we have in place such as food waste diversion strategies and sourcing specific, low-carbon products from local suppliers. Auditing waste is part of our business model, and we report on waste as part of our B-Corp recertification process as well. You can see more in our 2021 Impact Report.
Q: What challenges have you faced while trying to remove plastic waste from your system?
Brian Friesen: Cleanfarms isn’t working to eliminate anything other than waste sent to landfill or discharged into the environment, whether it be plastic, fibre, wood or chemicals. While plastic is the main type of waste we manage, it is not the only material we manage. Our goal is to collect waste materials, on behalf of our members, and recycle or safely dispose of these materials. We strive for zero plastic waste to landfill in agriculture in Canada. But it is important to understand that we do not make these products – we manage them once they become waste and as such, we cannot “remove plastic waste” from manufacture because we don’t manufacture them. Rather, we prevent it from entering the environment or being landfilled. It’s also important to understand that plastics used in agriculture contribute to a safe, affordable and efficient method of growing and preserving food as it makes its way to market. Plastic is not evil. In many cases, its use means a smaller environmental footprint than alternative materials. But if not properly managed, plastic waste can be harmful in our environment. And that is why we exist – to collect this plastic and convert it into new plastic products while avoiding plastic waste in the environment. We are trying to eliminate plastic waste…but not the plastic itself.
While we don’t manufacture the plastic, we do understand that a circular economy for these products, where they can be incorporated into new products and packaging, is probably the best end use of these materials. We are currently collecting these plastic wastes to move towards a circular economy where they are made right back into new products with a “north star” goal of making the same product out of the old product. We are also actively working towards a bottle-to-bottle recycling project for pesticide containers. We’ve also recently partnered with Berry Global, one of our members, on a grain bag circular economy project. Finally, there are areas where Cleanfarms can make a difference in eliminating unnecessary plastics or other materials that create a negative environmental footprint. We usually send this through to our members in price signals, charging them more for products that are non-recyclable. If they redesign their packaging for recycling, we can eliminate or change some of the plastic used moving towards a circular economy.
Brianne Miller: The challenges we’ve faced include the time and funding to conduct audits in as much detail as we’d like, as well as confusion around compostables and bioplastics, and educating our customers about these.
Q: What opportunities have you found in terms of replacing plastic with other materials?
Barry Friesen: As mentioned previously, replacing plastic is not our goal or mandate. However, we can influence the use of certain plastics when the product or package is non-recyclable. The best way to influence our members is in price signals. If a plastic product we collect is non-recyclable, the cost of managing that product is higher. A prime example is for plastic pesticide containers. Up to 25 per cent of the cost of our program in collecting and recycling these containers is offset by the sale of the plastic to manufacturers of new products. If we cannot sell the plastic, it must be disposed and, in that case, we will be forced to pay for its disposal. One particular pesticide product, for instance, renders the container non-recyclable. In that case we place a 100-per-cent surcharge on the container because of the loss of plastic sale revenue and the extra cost of disposing of the containers. The manufacturers have shifted to reusable containers to save money wherever they can.
Brianne Miller: We’ve seen opportunities in cost savings for materials and products, and in our ability to relationship-build and find joint opportunities to reduce waste with suppliers.
Q: Do you think creating a circular economy in your operations is possible?
Barry Friesen: Absolutely. We have several global brand-owners as members who are already incorporating circular economy principles in many of their packaging. We are working with them and have implemented a sustainable packaging committee, a subcommittee of our board, whose mandate is to pursue more circular economy approaches to the members. We can use assistance as these initiatives take time, effort and lots of technical studies to bring solutions to the marketplace.
Brianne Miller: Yes, it already is!
Food innovation and new technology can have a major impact on product life cycle design. Do you have a ground-breaking concept needing funding? CFIN’s Food Innovation Challenge, Plastics Solutions for Food: Reduction, Replacement, and Recyclability, is looking for proposals! Click here for more information.
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