Canada’s chemicals and plastics trade associations are in talks about merging the Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA, Mississauga, Ontario; www.plastics.ca) into the country’s chemical industry’s trade association, Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC, Ottowa, Ontario; www.canadianchemistry.ca), to help speak with a greater voice on circular economy issues. The move, which would make CPIA a division of CIAC, is envisaged to be completed by Canada Day on 1 July 2020, provided both of the organisations’ boards and members approve the plan as expected in the first quarter. Chemicals and plastics trade associations in some other countries have already aligned similarly.

“Combining those strengths will increase our share of voice about urgent plastics issues with important stakeholders at a time when our sector needs the clearest and most unified national voice possible,” said CPIA chairman Joel Rudolph, who is also vice president of strategy and business development at Farnell Packaging (Dartmouth, Nova Scotia / Canada; www.farnell.ca). CIAC and CPIA have “very complementary strengths and mandates,” he added. CIAC chairman Ed Bechberger, at the same time president of Erco Worldwide (Toronto, Ontario; www.ercoworldwide.com), said combining operations with CPIA would help the chemical industry move to a circular economy. “The chemistry and plastics sectors have a long history of innovation to solve society’s most pressing needs by developing new processes, solutions and products,” Bechberger noted. “Our boards agree that the time is definitely right to come together and facilitate the shift.” CPIA president and CEO Carol Hochu said the groups expect some cost savings from a combination but strengthening advocacy for the plastics value chain in Canada is the principal driver.

In the past, CIAC and CPIA have collaborated on many issues. In 2018, they jointly called for 100% of plastic packaging to be reused, recycled or recovered by 2040 after 100% is made recyclable or recoverable by 2030. The two organisations also agreed on broader commitments under “Operation Clean Sweep” (OCS), a voluntary international programme aimed at reducing pellet pollution from factories – see Plasteurope.com of 01.04.2019.