OTTAWA, ON - Reduce; Resue; Recycle. Those are the famed ‘three R’s’ that have long represented sustainability efforts. The Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) is adding a new ‘R’—Review—as it rolls out a new initiative aimed to educate the produce industry. The CPMA recently announced the release of a technical report entitled “A landscape review of plastics in the Canadian fresh produce sector” developed by Value Chain Management International (VCMI). In addition, the two published a subsequent roadmap addressing plastic packaging in the produce industry. Both of these documents are a result of the CPMA Plastics Packaging Working Group.

“These publications are a manifestation of CPMA’s efforts and vision for a green economy that identifies concerns around fragmented systems, unnecessary and problematic plastics, the benefits of plastics when used within the appropriate system, and the need to reduce food waste and ensure food security in our efforts around sustainable packaging,” said President Ron Lemaire. “Together with our members and partners across the fresh fruit and vegetable supply chain, and with our colleagues throughout the food system, we hope to be a catalyst for positive and viable change that enables businesses to thrive, communities to flourish, and consumer preferences and demands to be met.”

The technical report details the results of months of research on Canadian and global plastic use, focusing on the fresh fruit and vegetable supply chain’s impact. The purpose of the study is to aid the development of a pragmatic roadmap that will assist the industry in navigating the highly complex, multifaceted topic of utilizing plastic packaging in the most economically and environmentally responsible means possible over the short, medium, and long term. These documents can be found on the CPMA website.

According to a press release, the CPMA Plastics Packaging Working Group was established in May 2019 and convened its first meeting shortly thereafter. The group has managed to reinvent the three ‘R’s’ by identifying a path forward to address the use of plastics within the produce sector, identifying efforts already undertaken by the industry, determining best practices, and developing an industry-supported roadmap to maintaining food quality and safety while reducing the environmental impact of plastics.

Repeat after me, folks: Reduce; Reuse; Recycle; Review. Because the best way to progress is to constantly reimagine the possibilities. Stick with us at AndNowUKnow as we uncover the many sustainable initiatives coming to fruition.

CPMA