Canadian Produce Marketing Association and VCM International Release Plastic Packaging Technical Report and Roadmap

December 5, 2019 (Ottawa, ON) – The Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) is pleased to announce the release of a technical report entitled “A landscape review of plastics in the Canadian fresh produce sector” developed by Value Chain Management International (VCMI), and subsequent roadmap addressing plastic packaging in the produce industry. Both documents are outputs of the CPMA Plastics Packaging Working Group.

The CPMA Plastics Packaging Working Group was established in May 2019 and convened its first meeting shortly thereafter to begin the process of identifying a path forward to address the use of plastics within the produce sector, identify efforts already undertaken by industry, determine best practices, and develop an industry-supported roadmap to maintaining food quality and safety while reducing the environmental impact of plastics.

The Technical Report details the results of months of research on Canadian and global plastic use, focusing on the fresh fruit and vegetable supply chain’s impact. The purpose of the study was to aid the development of a pragmatic roadmap that will assist the produce industry to navigate the highly complex, multifaceted topic of utilizing plastic packaging in the most economically and environmentally responsible means possible over the short, medium and long term. This roadmap is now available for public viewing on the CPMA website.

“These publications are a manifestation of CPMA’s efforts and vision for a green economy that identifies concerns around fragmented systems, unnecessary and problematic plastics, the benefits of plastics when used within the appropriate system and the need to reduce food waste and ensure food security in our efforts around sustainable packaging,” said CPMA President Ron Lemaire. “Together with our members and partners across the fresh fruit and vegetable supply chain, and with our colleagues throughout the food system, we hope to be a catalyst for positive and viable change that enables businesses to thrive, communities to flourish and consumer preferences and demands to be met.”

Direct links to the published documents can be found here:

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For more information, please contact:

Allan Gordon Manager, Communications, Canadian Produce Marketing Association

Telephone: 613-226-4187 x225 | Cell: 613-878-3312 Email: [email protected]

Sue Lewis

Vice President, Market Development, Canadian Produce Marketing Association

Telephone: 613-226-4187 x226 | Cell: 613-796-8221 Email: [email protected]

About the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA)

Based in Ottawa, Ontario, CPMA is a not-for-profit organization that represents a diverse membership made up of every segment of the produce industry supply chain who are responsible for 90% of the fresh fruit and vegetable sales in Canada. CPMA is fortunate to represent a sector that is both a significant economic driver for communities and that also improves the health and productivity of Canadians.

About VCM International (VCMI):

VCMI is dedicated to improving the profitability and competitiveness of commercial businesses through promoting and enabling the management of closely aligned value chains. VCMI helps businesses develop closer strategic relationships with customers and suppliers, resulting in their being able to learn and adapt more effectively and realize greater profits than if operating unilaterally. VCMI’s global consulting team is located in Canada, Europe, and Australasia, and comprises world leaders in quality management, experiential management training, commercial-focused environmental sustainability, and value chain innovation. The team’s expertise in lean thinking, six sigma, sales processes, management systems, consumer research, and value chain analysis has resulted in highly measurable improved profitability for their clients in the agri-food, aeronautical, automotive, pharmaceutical, and service sectors.