Канадцы массово переходят на многоразовые пакеты: поддержка запрета пластика растет

In October 2020, the federal government announced its intention to implement a ban on the manufacture, import and sale of single-use plastics. The goal is to take Canada to zero plastic waste by 2030 and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Since December 2023, sale bans have been in place for six categories of single-use plastics across Canada: checkout bags, food service ware such as clamshells, lidded containers, boxes, cups, plates and bowls, cutlery, stir sticks and single-use straws—with specific exemptions for medical and accessibility needs. An additional ban focused on flexible plastic rings for beverage six-packs came into force in June 2024. Most Canadians are in favour of the bans on the six categories of single-use plastics. Support is highest for the ban on flexible plastic rings for beverage six-packs (60 per cent), followed by stir sticks (59 per cent), checkout bags (58 per cent), plastic straws (56 per cent), food service ware (56 per cent) and cutlery (52 per cent). In each of these categories, satisfaction with the existence of a ban tends to be higher among Canadians aged 55 and over than among their younger counterparts. There is a significant political divide on plastic checkout bags. Canadians who voted for the Liberal party in the 2025 federal election are more likely to endorse a ban (69 per cent) than those who backed Conservative candidates (47 per cent). A similar scenario ensues on plastic cutlery, with fewer than half of Conservative supporters (46 per cent) endorsing a prohibition while 62 per cent of Liberals are in favour of it. The behaviour of Canadians on other environmentally friendly actions matches their attitude on single-use plastics. Across the country, 45 per cent say they go out of their way to recycle—such as holding on to bottles and cans until they can be placed into a proper recycling bin—“all of the time.” The commitment to properly recycle “all of the time” stands at 59 per cent among Canadians aged 55 and over but drops to 40 per cent among those aged 35 to 54 and to 36 per cent among those aged 18 to 34. The political numbers outline a similar slide: from 53 per cent of Liberal voters who properly recycle “all of the time,” to 44 per cent among New Democratic Party voters and to 42 per cent among Conservative voters. Canadians are not embracing other actions with the same fervour. Only 21 per cent always limit hot water usage in their home—such as taking shorter showers, running washing machine or dishwasher with full loads only. Just 18 per cent always unplug electrical devices in their home—such as TVs, computers, cell phone chargers—when they are not in use. Fewer still are completely devoted to eating organic or home-grown foods (12 per cent) or buying biodegradable products (11 per cent). In any case, the federal ban appears to be having an impact. When we asked Canadians how often they transport groceries out of a store using their own reusable bag, the average answer across the country was 84 per cent. This means that only 16 per cent of trips to stores end with a person requesting a paper bag or making the most of their limbs and pockets. Canadians aged 55 and over are leading the way in remembering to always bring a reusable bag (92 per cent), followed by those aged 35 to 54 (84 per cent) and those aged 18 to 34 (77 per cent). On a regional basis, Albertans are ahead at 89 per cent, followed by Atlantic Canadians (88 per cent), Quebecers (87 per cent), British Columbians (84 per cent) and Ontarians (82 per cent). Saskatchewan and Manitoba are at the bottom of the list with 78 per cent. Finally, a majority of Canadians (55 per cent) say that, compared to five years ago, they are using fewer plastic products in their daily lives—a proportion that rises to 60 per cent among women, 66 per cent among Canadians aged 55 and over and 62 per cent among British Columbians. The animosity toward the ban on single-use plastics was political in 2020 and remains political in 2026, but not to a point where it could be relied upon as a wedge issue for Conservative organizers eager to increase their level of support. Mario Canseco is president of Research Co. Methodology: Results are based on an online survey conducted from June 29-July 1, 2026, among 1,001 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to census figures for age, gender and region in Canada. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.