Quit Single-Use Plastics & Save: Why You Should Embrace the Refill and Reuse Model

Government Policy Shifts the Responsibility To Producers

In late 2021, the Government of Canada published an official bulletin called “Guidance for Selecting Alternatives to the Single-Use Plastics” which built on its Single-Use Plastics Prohibition Regulations.

In this document, the single-use plastic ban in Canada became solidified as an official government action. Here are a main areas of single-plastic use identified in this report:

• Single-use plastic bags used at checkout
• Cutlery, single-use cups, and other foodservice wares
• Ring carriers
• Stir sticks
• Straws



Of note is that the document mainly targets manufacturers and distributors of these products within the country and encourages businesses to choose alternative suppliers to minimize environmental impact.

Reviving the Reuse Concept

“Refill and reuse” is the new model consumers today want to see. While the recycling of plastics has remained a substantial part of sustainability, companies today are actually searching for an alternative to recycling for several reasons:

• Recycling is becoming increasingly expensive, especially as recycling centers have experienced operational disruptions in recent years.
• Many governments, particularly in Asia, have banned the import of plastic recyclables.
• Most “recycled” plastics actually end up in landfills or the ocean anyway as a result.



That’s why the practice of reusing plastic has returned. The idea of reusable containers has great potential in preventing plastic waste from ending up in landfills.

Back in 2018, a report was filed showing that 95% of plastic products were thrown out immediately after the first use. This urgent problem came to the attention of consumers and businesses everywhere, hence why corporate sustainability has become a popular topic.

This trend manifested itself in the aforementioned Canada plastic ban, and companies everywhere are searching for reusable plastic solutions, including:

• Holiday Inn removed mini-toiletry bottles from its hotels in 2019.
• Boston Pizza stopped using plastic straws.
• Canadian Tire recently launched a roadmap to eliminate plastic waste.



What do all of these companies have in common? They all source their cleaning products from Econo-Chem!

Whether you’re looking to buy cleaning products in bulk for your business or you need an eco-friendly cleaning solution for your own home, it’s time to start saving money by investing in cost-effective cleaning supplies that help reduce plastic waste.

Econo-Chem has been providing environmentally-friendly cleaning solutions and dispensers since 2013. We produce locally and help you save money along the way by allowing you to buy in bulk. Our customizable concentrations allow you to tune your cleaning products to your liking while cutting down on plastic waste.