6 Months Until the First Canadian Federal Plastics Registry Report — Is Your Company Prepared?
by Aaron Sarah at 13:07 in Emerging, Environmental, Packaging
With only six months remaining until the first report is due to the Federal Plastics Registry, does your company feel prepared to complete it? This blog will explore who is required to report to the registry, what information must be included in the report, and the latest updates on the implementation of the Canadian government's reporting portal.
Who needs to report?
The obligation to report to the registry follows a very similar structure to provincial EPR programs. Firstly the brand owner who is resident in Canada is obligated, if the brand owner is not resident in Canada then the obligation falls to the first resident to import or manufacture the product. If there is no resident importer or manufacturer then the obligation falls to the retailer who first supplies the product to the consumer. Emphasis needs to be placed on the residency status- anyone exporting to Canada that does not have residency status will not need to report, the obligation would fall to the person importing their goods. Anyone that manufactures, imports or places less than 1000kg of plastic products or packaging on the market per calendar year will be exempt from reporting.
What needs to be reported in Phase 1?
The Phase 1 report, due on 29th September 2025, requires producers of plastic packaging, electronic and electrical equipment and single-use or disposable products to report on the following data points:
1. Resin Type
Resins classified as per North American Product Classification System (NAPCS)
2. Resin source
This will be indicating whether the resin used came from a virgin fossil-based resin, virgin bio-based resin, post-consumer recycled resin or post-industrial recycled resin
3. Category of plastic products
Stating whether it is packaging, EEE or SUP etc, that is being reported
4. Subcategory of plastic products
The categories are broken down so it will need to be indicated what type it is. Examples of subcategories for each category in scope of phase 1 are below:
Packaging- Filled- Rigid beverage container and Unfilled- Flexible, food contact material
Single-use or disposable product- Foodservice ware: Takeaway cups and Personal hygiene and care products: Wipes
Electronic and Electrical equipment- Electronic or electrical appliances and electronic or electrical sports equipment
5. Waste stream
Phase 1 reporting only includes plastic that ends up in the residential waste stream. Plastic that ends up in the Industrial, Institutional or commercial waste stream will be needed from 2026. Waste generators will need to report in 2027.
6. Quantity
The quantity of each resin in packaging or plastic products imported, manufactured or placed on the market will need to be given in kg for each province and territory. Note that each time an activity is performed on a plastic item, it must be reported separately. For example a business importing unfilled packaging and filling it with their product to place on the Canadian market must report the two activities separately
7. Calculation method
What calculation method was used, for example, Average BOMS or Specific component identification method
Upcoming steps before reporting begins
Environment and Climate Change Canada have just finished developing the Regulatory Services Platform ready for the Phase 1 report to be submitted by 29th September 2025. Companies can now begin to register in the platform. In the meantime, companies should also start assessing the data points required for the report and should be contacting suppliers for data, if required. Lorax EPI can help with all of these requirements so please contact us today if you would like help with reporting to the Federal Plastics Registry in Canada.
Click here to receive regular updates on blog posts, webinars, and regulatory changes directly to your inbox
