Land Acknowledgement: We would like to acknowledge that we have been able to live, work, learn, and create this site at UBC Point Grey campus which resides on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Musqueam people. Our site discusses the effects of plastic pollution in Canada and the state of international, federal, and provincial plastic politics and policy and we want to emphasise that the effects of plastic pollution disproportionately affect Indigenous communities who were the original caretakers of the land. In discussions of plastic pollution and plastic politics in Canada, Indigenous communities are often overlooked as important actors who are knowledgable of the land and who are often the most tangibly affected by harm caused to nature.


<aside> 📚 Introduction to Plastics

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<aside> 🌐 International Plastic Policy

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<aside> 🍁 Federal Plastic Policy

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<aside> 🌄 Provincial Plastic Policy

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<aside> 👥 Third-Party Actors

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📝 About Us


This site was created by five students from the department of Political Science at the University of British Columbia with diverse interests within Canadian and International politics, as well as an interdisciplinary interest in the cross-section between science, business, and politics. Created by: Jacob Earley, Jessica Hernandez, Karan Bains, Shachi Rajesh, and Talynn English For: POLI 405F W21 at UBC Vancouver Point Grey Campus


Interactive map of Canadian plastic policies and environmental impacts of plastic on Canada. Colour legend: Municipal regulations, provincial bans, and environmental impacts.

Interactive map of Canadian plastic policies and environmental impacts of plastic on Canada. Colour legend: Municipal regulations, provincial bans, and environmental impacts.

Site Map


Introduction to Plastics

This section introduces the global context of plastic production, usage, and pollution, explains the environmental impacts of plastic, and outlines the feasibility of plastic alternatives. It includes global and Canadian statistics, explains environmental impacts in Canada, and discusses consumer behaviours and groups affected by plastic alternatives.


International Plastic Policy

This section discusses Canada’s international plastic policy. This will go into trade partnerships, and plastic agreements between Canada and other countries. Furthermore it will explain the work being done for plastic waste within the United Nations Environmental Assembly, as well as the other NGOs. This will provide some highlights to the difference between the Canada’s waste management in the global north versus the global south.


Federal Plastic Policy

This section outlines the Federal legislation and policies to inform regulation and mitigation of plastic and resin waste. It also includes relevant intergovernmental and legal discussion of these policies, as well as, examples of how regulations and restrictions have been applied.


Provincial Plastic Policy

This section outlines Provincial legislation and regulations around plastic and resin waste reduction and prevention. It includes information on varying provincial approaches to plastic and resin waste management through EPR systems, as well as municipal bylaw regulations.


Third-Party Actors

This section introduces non-government actors that are participating in and/or contributing to plastic waste. Included is the role and relevance of the plastic & resin industry, interest groups, and consumers.