Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you to the entire committee for inviting us.
My name is Amar Mohanty, and I am from the Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre at the University of Guelph. My colleague, Professor Manjusri Misra, also joins me here. We are pleased to be here and to contribute to your study.
Our remarks will focus on sustainable solutions for plastic waste management.
The focus of our research centre is on sustainable materials development for green manufacturing that supports a circular economy.
What are sustainable plastics? Sustainable plastics are defined as materials manufactured from renewable, recycled or waste feedstock and their combinations. There are two types: biodegradable, compostable materials that can replace single-use plastic for applications where recycling is not possible, and non-biodegradable but reusable and recyclable materials for durable applications, such as automotive and construction applications.
Currently, the world produces around 450 million metric tons of plastic, but production is projected to be doubled to around one billion tonnes by 2050. That is the truth. The global landfills now swell with nine billion tonnes of plastic. That is around one tonne for every person on earth.
It is essential to design and implement end-of-life strategies for all plastics. We know the ultimate goal is to have zero waste, with no plastic being diverted to landfills. The waste of one industry can be the resource of another industry's application. We need a plan on how to get there.
Around 90% of Canada's plastic waste is not recycled or recovered. Today, 50% of the plastic produced is for single-use applications. This is why we believe that action on single-use plastic destined for landfills is critical. When left in the environment or a landfill, plastic does not biodegrade. Instead, it breaks down to smaller parts—including microplastics—that have devastating impacts on the ecosystem. We need alternative solutions. With respect to plastic packaging, we must target to reach 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable single-use plastic options.
For the committee's consideration, we'd like to highlight three key material segments.
The first is packaging with mixed materials that combine plastic, paper and metals, such as single-serve coffee pods, yogourt and ice cream containers.
The second relates to multi-layer films that recycling facilities cannot separate, like a Tetra Pak, or chip and cookie bags.
The third relates to items that are impractical to recycle even though they are mono-material, such as disposable cutlery, straws and takeout containers.
Implementing compostable alternatives in these three areas is a real opportunity to position Canada as a global leader in sustainability. This is a market with global growth potential.
The advantage of biodegradable, compostable plastics is that they break down to water and carbon dioxide without leaving microplastics. They are designed to degrade within a specified period in a particular environment—for example, six months or less in industrial composting, one year in home composting, or less than two years in soil.
As an example of upcycling, we have successfully used recycled plastic and biocarbons in composite materials. We have invented biocarbons that are derived from various wastes, including agri-food, forestry and plastic waste. We then utilized these to manufacture, for the first time in the world, high-performance biocomposites for durable application. The Ford Motor Company has adopted our biocarbon technology to manufacture lightweight headlamp housing. It's lighter by about 20%.
I would like Professor Misra to conclude here.