Today, Canada’s federal government is expected to release a list of banned single-use plastic items and a plan to designate plastic a toxic substance–defined under CEPA as those that cause, or may cause, immediate or long-term harm to the environment, biological diversity or human health, and already include greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane; mercury; asbestos; lead; formaldehyde; and bisphenol A (BPA), a synthetic chemical used in some plastics.
Presently, nearly all plastics produced globally are made from fossil fuels, and most in Canada come from ethane, a component of natural gas.
The oil industry says that labelling this toxic substance toxic will undermine its business plans to ramp up production and profits in a world moving away from fossil fuels. See: Ottawa set to declare plastics as toxic in blow to Alberta.
But sorry, earning profits while poisoning our water systems and bodies is not a business model that any of us should support. Canada needs innovation and new business ideas. Non-toxic packaging solutions are where the smart money and people are moving and the opportunities are global. The evidence, business and health case for doing so are obvious.
The video report below outlines yet another recent study that confirms the facts.
Rick Smith decided to conduct an experiment on himself to see if he could measure an increase of microplastics in his body. The author and Executive Director of the Broadbent Institute says the lab-based tests on his stool samples are the first of their kind in North America to search for traces of the tiny plastic particles in people. Microplastics have been discovered circulating in the environment and are linked to health concerns.
Here is a direct video link.
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