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Legal Approaches to Plastic Pollution: Evaluating Circular Economy Laws in Canada and the United Kingdom
Summary
This comparative study of Canada and the UK assessed how well circular economy principles are being implemented through law and policy to reduce plastic pollution, using comparative legal analysis and government interviews at multiple levels. Findings revealed a need for clearer legislative articulation of circular economy aims and stronger upstream regulatory measures targeting plastic production rather than focusing primarily on end-of-life waste management.
The circular economy has gained prominence as a framework to reduce plastic pollution by seeking to address the linear economic model of ‘take-make-waste’. However, despite the increasing popularity of the circular economy, there has been an identified gap in understanding how a circular economy will be implemented through the law. Through comparative analysis of law and policy, and interviews across different levels of government, this research evaluated current circular economy implementation in Canada and the United Kingdom. Findings reveal that there is a need for greater action to reflect circular economy ambitions through the law, including providing clarity on circular economy aims and enhancing regulatory measures to target the ‘upstream’ dimensions of plastic production. Finally, findings demonstrate that law and policy measures must contend with the multi-level governance of plastic and that advancing measures will necessitate efforts to balance harmonization and divergence of law and policy within, and across countries.