Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations prohibit the manufacture, import, and sale of the following categories of Single-Use Plastics (SUPs) that pose a threat to the environment and are commonly used by foodservice businesses.
The ban on manufacturing and importing of these SUPs will take effect on December 20, 2022 (with specific exceptions in certain cases). However, businesses will have until December 2023 to deplete their existing stock of these items, as their sale will be prohibited starting from that date. In this blog post, we will explore alternatives for a more eco-friendly dining experience.
The Single-Use Plastics Prohibition Regulations target specific categories of SUPs that pose a significant threat to the environment. These items include:
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- Cutlery: This category encompasses knives, forks, spoons, sporks, and chopsticks.
- Foodservice ware: Items designed for serving or transporting food or beverage that is ready to be consumed. This includes clamshell containers, lidded containers, boxes, cups, plates, or bowls that contain expanded or extruded polystyrene foam, polyvinyl chloride, carbon black, or an oxo-degradable plastic.
- Stir sticks: Designed to stir or mix beverages, or prevent a beverage from spilling from the lid of its container.
- Straws: Including straight drinking straws and flexible straws, often packaged with beverage containers like juice boxes and pouches.
- Checkout bags: Commonly used plastic bags at retail locations.
- Ring carriers: Flexible rings designed to surround beverage containers for easy carrying.
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Businesses in the tourism and hospitality industry recognize that customers desire environmentally sustainable options while still valuing convenience, especially with the growing trend of delivery and takeout.
One approach to meet these new regulations is to replace plastics with non-plastic alternatives for essential products. Below are some of the recommendations.
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- Some drinks can be pre-mixed and stirred before reaching the customers
- Investigate alternative materials that is accepted in the municipal Blue or Green bin like the plastics labelled PET (#1), HDPE (#2) and PP (#5) are the ones that can be easily recycled. These plastics are accepted in most blue box programs and can be sold and turned into new products.
- Reusable Dishware – Embracing reusable dishware is a pivotal step in aligning with the SUP This includes investing in durable and eco-friendly options such as ceramic plates, glassware, stainless steel cutlery, and bamboo serving trays. These alternatives not only reduce waste but also offer a more upscale dining experience for customers.
- Reusable take-out container service – Businesses can implement a deposit return system for reusable alternatives to single-use items. These systems can be rented from companies, some of which use an app, card and/or QR codes to support the cost of delivering the service. Customers/clients become members of the service, pay a deposit fee to use the reusable alternative, then receive their deposit back upon return of the reusable item at a designated drop-off point. Businesses can reach out to these services directly to coordinate. The following list of companies provide reusable services and supplies. Learn more by visiting their sites.
Local services and suppliers:Services and suppliers within Canada:
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