Skip to content

Nova Chemicals looks to help solve the problem of plastic waste

Petrochemcial company says action by industry, government, communities and consumers is essential
17231286_web1_190611-RDA-nova-on-single-use-plastic-ban_1
NOVA Chemicals is Canada’s largest polyethylene producer and operates a plant at Joffre with more than 700 employees. (Photo contributed)

Nova Chemicals says it would welcome the opportunity to be part of the national conversation to create a world free of plastic waste.

The federal government this week announced a ban on single-use plastics, such as drinking straws, water bottles, plastic bags, cutlery, stir sticks and fast food containers, by 2021.

Companies that produce plastics or use them in packaging will be responsible for the collection and recycling of the waste.

Nova, which is Canada’s largest polyethylene producer and operates a plant at Joffre on 1,000 acres, said it supports the government as it works on the science to better understand the implications of plastics in the environment.

“The issue of plastics in the environment is solvable, and action by industry, government, communities and consumers is essential to bring about meaningful, systemic and permanent solutions to get and keep plastics out of our oceans and the natural environment,” the company said in a statement.

“Canada has the opportunity to take a leadership position by improving how plastic waste is managed and by investing in new solutions.”

The company’s Joffre plant, which produces the plastic polyethylene, employs more than 700 people.

The polyethylene is shipped in pellet form and is used to produce trash and merchandise bags, protective food packaging, consumer and industrial product packaging, and shrink and stretch films.

Related:

WATCH: Central Alberta organizations recognized for efforts to improve air quality

Despite lip service on reducing waste, Ottawa gave plastics giant Nova Chemicals $35M grant

Nova is involved in development to create products that can be more easily recycled and to develop new offerings that include recycled materials.



szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter