In celebration of National Recycling Day on November 15th, the Canadian Beverage Association (CBA) has launched its first-ever Canadian video campaign aimed at increasing awareness of the value of a plastic beverage bottle, with a goal of improving the already high rates at which these bottles are recycled. Each 15-second video encourages Canadians to recycle their plastic beverage containers to keep them in the closed loop of our circular economy.
With an average national recovery rate of 75%, PET plastic beverage bottles are a major contributor to the success of the circular economy. But we want to collect, recycle, and remake even more. We want every bottle back – including the caps. Recycled PET plastic has value, and that value continues to help fund recycling programs and initiatives nation-wide. CBA is proud of the work that PET plastic’s value has allowed us to do in ensuring greener packaging options for Canadians.
CBA’s Made to be Remade videos showcase the value of PET recycled plastic. Our goal is to mobilize individuals, industry, and government and encourage even higher recycling rates across Canada. Currently, there isn’t enough recycled PET plastic to meet market demand. We’re working towards an ambitious proposed beverage container diversion targets of 75% by 2026 and 80% by 2030.
Recycled PET plastic is one of the most valuable materials supporting Canada’s recycling systems. Everytime a PET plastic beverage bottle lands in a recycling facility instead of a landfill, the need for raw material is reduced, which helps to lower greenhouse gas emissions and supports local jobs. The circular economy grows with every bottle we get back.
With a national beverage container recycling rate that exceeds the national plastic recycling rate of only 11%, we know we’re on the right track. Even so, we want every bottle back so that it remains in the circular economy, and out of the environment.