At FCPC we tend to focus a lot on recycling because of these legislative programs. So it does force you to say, wait a minute, let's step back. As I mentioned in my remarks, I personally believe that focusing just on recycling, as these programs tend to do, takes away from other issues such as water usage and energy usage, which our members do look at when creating their packaging.
But unfortunately, the way of the world right now is that there are limited resources at companies in any way you work, and those resources are going to be forced to look at certain things. Where there are provincial governments that have these mandated programs, you're going to be forced to look at the recyclability of packaging and maybe that means you're not going to be looking at some of the other areas.
I think there is a reason it's a hierarchy. Reduction is the number one and we are seeing our members reduce the size of their packaging, though that's a whole other very complicated kettle of fish. There is a function to packaging, there are food safety requirements.
One of the issues—not to get off track—is that we're looking at food waste right now and what we're actually seeing sometimes is that companies change their packaging so that it's bigger. I've seen this with cheese, there is more of a zip-lock compartment to it now so it lasts longer, but they might have had to make that package bigger. There are trade-offs, so it's very complicated. But obviously reduction is the star. Recycling is very important and it's something we're looking at, but because of these disparate programs you want to step back and ask: wait a minute, can we do this in a more efficient way to make sure that everything is being recycled across Canada, and not just in certain provinces?