Federal government pauses planned ban on single-use plastic exports

The federal government is suspending plans to ban the export of single-use plastics, citing economic pressures linked to tariffs and supply chain disruptions. Officials say these challenges are creating significant strain on the domestic economy.

On Saturday, the government opened a 70-day public consultation on the decision through the Canada Gazette, inviting feedback from industry stakeholders and Canadians. According to the notice, the expected environmental gains from restricting plastic exports are not considered proportional to the potential economic impact.

The plastics industry generated $35 billion in revenue from single-use plastic exports in 2023, highlighting the scale of the sector’s contribution to the Canadian economy.

Federal regulations restricting domestic use of single-use plastics, including grocery bags, straws, cutlery, and can ring carriers, remain in effect. The government emphasized that these measures to reduce plastic waste at home will continue despite the export suspension.