Microplastics and Biodegradable Materials

AI summary

Petitioners say microplastics are widespread in Canadian ecosystems, treated drinking water, wildlife, food and human tissues and that they can carry hazardous chemical additives and sorbed contaminants, posing cumulative exposure concerns for children and future generations. They ask the Government of Canada to (1) integrate microplastics into federal plastics strategies and clarify CEPA authorities for Plastic Manufactured Items, (2) fund and incentivize Canadian research, development and commercialization of truly biodegradable textile fibres and dyes with public transparency, and (3) establish a sustained federal research and innovation program to develop tires that yield only truly biodegradable, non‑toxic particles.

AI summaries describe petitioners’ requests and claims. Consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

Petition to the Government of Canada Microplastics are ubiquitous across Canadian ecosystems, treated drinking water, wildlife, food and human tissues; By carrying or releasing hazardous chemical additives and sorbing chemicals and pathogens from the environment, microplastics expose ecosystems and people to particles and associated chemicals cumulatively, a particular concern for children and future generations; Laundering of synthetic textiles and tire wear are the two most significant sources of microplastic pollution (up to 65%); Although a fraction of microfibres can be captured through filtration, residual microplastics will remain in both water and the biosolids that are subsequently applied to agricultural fields, so that microfibres can only be wholly eliminated if textiles are made truly biodegradable; and Canada has the opportunity to be a global leader in the research and development of truly biodegradable materials and technologies that wholly eliminate microplastics. We, the undersigned, People of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to: 1. Integrate and emphasize microplastics and their pollution pathways into federal plastics strategies and action plans, and strengthen or clarify Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) authorities under the listing of the toxic substance Plastic Manufactured Items (PMIs); 2. Enable Canadian intellectual property and biomaterial supply chains to dominate in a post-plastic world by funding and incentivizing Canadian research, development and commercialization of truly biodegradable textile fibers and dyes and prioritize transparency to the Canadian public on plans, progress, timelines and outcomes; and 3. Establish a sustained federal research and innovation program to enable the production and use of tires that yield only truly biodegradable, non-toxic particles, with clear pathways from proof of concept to field testing and commercialization.

Government response

No government response is available yet.