Two Conestoga research centres joined the Canada Plastics Pact (CPP) as a knowledge partner to contribute expertise toward the national effort to eliminate plastic waste by keeping plastics in the economy and out of people, animals and nature.
Conestoga joined the Canada Plastics Pact (CPP) as a knowledge partner.
The collective’s goal of creating a circular economy for plastics fits well with the applied research underway at the Conestoga Food Research & Innovation Lab (CFRIL) and SMART Centre, both uniquely equipped to drive innovation and leverage expertise in technical packaging and recycling.
Researchers and faculty at both centres will participate in working groups to collaborate with partner organizations to work toward CPP goals and be available to assist with research projects.
“Through participation in the CPP working groups, our industry expert faculty and researchers will provide valuable contributions. They will also bring new knowledge gained from the CPP working groups to our students,” said Nicole Detlor, CFRIL director.
The Canada Plastics Pact is leading Canada’s response to the escalating plastic crisis, bringing together businesses, policymakers, associations and non-governmental organizations to eliminate plastic waste by accelerating and scaling solutions that will keep plastics in the economy and out of people, animals and the environment. By fostering innovation and collaboration, more than 100 partners from across the plastics value chain are taking meaningful steps to eliminate unnecessary and problematic plastics, redesign packaging and increase the use of recycled plastic.
“CFRIL is thrilled to be joining the Canada Plastics Pact and connect with like-minded organizations. Our applied research focus on supporting sustainable packaging is aligned with the CPP mission toward the elimination of plastics waste,” Detlor said.
“Our industry partners are eager to find solutions to incorporate for more sustainable packaging in their operations. We anticipate that our membership with CPP will help with accelerating connections.”
CFRIL is an applied food research lab with advanced facilities that provide solutions for businesses in the food and culinary sector, working with partners to provide innovative solutions and support throughout the product development cycle and scale-up.
Conestoga’s SMART Centre is a dedicated hub for applied research, technical services and training where faculty and students collaborate to offer solutions to industries. It’s home to the Advanced Recycling Technologies Lab, established in 2021 to facilitate pilot-scale testing of recycling and material recovery, along with advanced vision and robotics technologies.
Becoming a knowledge partner is an exciting opportunity for the SMART Centre to share its expertise and contribute to sustainable solutions to the growing global issue of plastic waste.
“The SMART Centre will be leveraging its recycling pilot plant and technical staff to drive innovation in plastics recycling and circular supply chain,” said director Jeff Dukes. “Joining the CPP will allow us to expand our impact and grow new partnerships in this ecosystem.”