Education for consumers on the project will be developed during the summer.Ottawa—Produce sellers now have a guide to the best plastics to package their products in to ensure food safety and protect the environment.The Preferred Plastics Guide was developed by an industry working group established by the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) last summer. It was released in late May and will now be studied by the sector while a consumer education plan is developed.It outlines three categories of plastics—preferred, minimize and unfavourable-and discusses plastic substitutes, bioplastics, and renewable-based packaging materials. “This guide is intended to help inform and support CPMA members in their packaging decision making processes, and will be updated as developments in packaging materials, design and recycling capabilities warrant.”CPMA says produce companies should consider the plastic in its favourable list as viable replacements for plastics identified as unfavourable. Those in the minimize category can be used while companies “investigate alternatives or substitution for the identified plastics or continue their use where required.”The Guide also offers considerations on labels, packaging design and form. It can be found at https://www.cpma.ca/docs/default-source/industry/2020/CPMA_Preferred_Plastics_Guide_English.pdfThe CPMA website also has a lot of information about what plastics are accepted for recycling across the country.It also notes that “An increasing number of plastic substitutes is emerging, ranging from bioplastics and biodegradables to renewable-based packaging materials and traditional wood/paper-based packaging. The benefit of the majority of these options rests on the availability of suitable collection and composting conditions–either residential or industrial in nature.”When the working group was established, CPMA President Ron Lemaire said, “The use of plastics across the produce industry is important for food safety, product shelf life and produce identification. This working group will look at all aspects of the issue to better understand the opportunities to balance environmental concerns, food safety issues and consumer demands.”CPMA took on the issue because the amount of plastic pollution caused in the environment had become a contentious issue. While plastic bags and packages are important for food safety and preventing food waste, “the mood in the industry has shifted dramatically,” he said. “Our challenge is how to meet consumer and environmental expectations.”Food & Consumer Products of Canada (FCPC) has joined an initiative of the MacArthur Foundation to move Canada toward a future of zero plastic waste. The Foundation's vision of a circular economy for plastic brings together businesses, governments, and NGOs to ensure plastic never becomes waste. A poll by Abacus Data found 90 per cent are worried about the level of plastic dumped into the environment.CEO Michael Graydon said FCPC's are committed to leading within Canada's grocery sector to push for sustainable packaging innovations that keep plastic waste out of the environment without compromising safety or affordability for Canadian families.”Michael Burrows, CEO, Maple Lodge Farms and Co-chair of Food and Beverage Canada, says, “Addressing plastics waste is a complex but important priority,” says “Eliminating plastic waste from the environment will require federal, provincial and municipal governments to work closely with waste management stakeholders, packaging manufacturers and plastics users to achieve national solutions.”While manufacturers acknowledge the need for plastic waste reduction strategies, FBC encourages the federal government to work closely with industry to ensure companies can transition their products to new packaging options.Alex Binkley is a freelance journalist and writes for domestic and international publications about agriculture, food and transportation issues. He's also the author of two science fiction novels with more in the works.