TORONTO (Oct. 19, 2020) – Waste Reduction Week in Canada is a year-round program that supports principles and practices of the circular economy, resource efficiency, and waste reduction that culminates as a week-long celebration every third week of October.

Each day has a theme that offers insight and action for Canadians and the economy to embrace.

The circular economy is at the heart of waste reduction, and offers clear progress away from the current take-make-waste linear consumption and production model to a circular model that is restorative and regenerative. Circularity underpins Waste Reduction Week in Canada and its daily themes, and Circular Economy. Monday celebrates initiatives and innovative product design and business models that will advance Canada’s circular economy

For 2020 we are proud to launch Waste Reduction Week in Canada with one of the Canada’s first-ever circular economy innovators.

The circular economy recognizes a combination of business models that expand beyond recycling, and focus on material value and resource efficiency through reduction and reuse.

The Beer Store and its members have long been champions of the circular economy by integrating circular business models: product life extension, circular supplies, and resource recovery.

Through its take-back and reverse logistics system containers are refilled more than 10 times each, and when they finally reach end-of-use are reintegrated back into production cycles. The materials inherent to these containers are considered and treated as valuable resources critical to their economic and environmental commitments. The Beer Store’s circular system – in place since 1927 – collected, reused, and recycled more than 1 billion containers in 2019 alone.

Circular Commitments and Achievements:

• Even with the impact of glass container light-weighting, and movement from glass into lighter weight containers and packaging, more than 311,000 metric tonnes of waste were diverted from local landfills last year, with all material getting reused or recycled.

• The return rate of refillable bottles reached 97% in 2019, proving the program’s effectiveness and consumer response rate.

• Through the deposit return and reverse logistics model Ontarians avoided 207,260 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions last year, which is equivalent to 44,777 passenger vehicles driven for one year.

• Through the deposit return program Ontarians saved 2,511,158 giga joules of energy from being used to create new alcohol containers, which is equivalent to 106,551 passenger vehicles driven for one year.

• Alcohol containers returned through The Beer Store support higher end-uses for recycled content where 24 million kg (53 million lbs.) of aluminum returned goes to Canadian aluminum processing plants each year. For glass recycled, 40% supports Canada’s fiberglass industry and 20% goes to Canada’s food industry.

“The Beer Store system revolves around the value of their containers and is designed through co-operation of their entire supply chain. Circularity is not an afterthought, rather, it is a fundamental to their economic and environmental objectives. The leadership demonstrated by The Beer Store in supporting circular business models shows that collaboration and innovation are factors necessary to Canada’s circular future.”

– Jo-Anne St.Godard, Executive Director, Recycling Council of Ontario

“At the Beer Store we take pride – and full responsibility – to collect, reuse and/or recycle all the material sold in our stores. We are always looking for more ways for our return system to support local communities, and work with partners to promote reuse and recycling. It also means that we are careful and considerate of the types of materials we use, only offering products that use containers that fit into circular business models.

We’re particularly proud to partner with Waste Reduction Week in Canada to engage everyone across the country on the benefits of the circular economy, and its business models that conserve valuable resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

– Ted Moroz, President, The Beer Store

Proclaim

Governments, schools, businesses, and organizations are asked to declare the third week of October as Waste Reduction Week in Canada. Proclaiming is a great way to profile your dedication to waste reduction to your community.

Proclaim Oct. 19-25 as Waste Reduction Week

Promote

Promotional materials and assets are available online. More materials such as sample social media posts and a promotional poster will be available throughout September.

Resources

Events

Organizing an event during Waste Reduction Week in Canada is an excellent way to showcase your proclamation and engage your community in the 3Rs and circular economy. Although many in-person events may not be possible this year due to COVID-19, we encourage participants to get creative and organize low-risk and virtual events. Some ideas include:

• Online repair workshops or tutorial videos

• Local landmark lightings

• Waste-free lunches at home, work, or school

• Waste collection drives such as hazardous waste, textiles, or electronics

• Online documentary screenings

• Webinars

• Virtual tours of recycling facilities

• Public installations

• Plastic-free challenges

Register

Social Media

Support Waste Reduction Week in Canada using hashtag #WasteReductionWeek in communications. Share new ideas, tips, stories, and pictures of waste reduction initiatives to demonstrate commitment to reducing waste both at home and in the community.

Resources

Thank you

Canadians are proud of their natural environment and understand the value of protecting our resources. Campaigns like Waste Reduction Week in Canada play an important role in reminding us to conserve and maintain a lifestyle that helps to preserve them. Your support will help inspire individuals and other communities to mobilize and take action.

We appreciate your commitment to the environment and for supporting Waste Reduction Week in Canada.