CANNABIS: DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION plastic products will be banned beginning in July 2021. that harms marine life of all kinds, from zooplankton and sea turtles to whales and
dolphins. An estimated 17.6 billion pounds of plastic enters the marine environment every year – roughly the equivalent of dumping a garbage truck full of plastic into the oceans every minute. There already exists “hemp plastic.” But as the name suggests, there is still plastic incorporated, and in some instances, only 10% of plant matter is even involved in the process... So questions around the biodegradability and sustainability remain. Plastic has been found in every corner of the world and has turned up in our drinking water, beer, salt, honey, and more. The problem is too massive for recycling alone to solve. A meager 9% of all plastic waste ever generated has been recycled. Meanwhile, plastic production is projected to quadruple between 2014 and 2050, far outpacing recycling and resulting in more plastic in our oceans. It’s these sobering facts that have us looking for solutions. With $226 billion in assets, New York’s pension fund is dropping many of its fossil fuel stocks in the next five years and will sell its shares in companies that contribute to global warming by 2040. The EU and its directive are adamant about this cause, by stating that where sustainable alternatives are easily available and affordable, single-use
Canada is also taking a stand... Plastic is now considered toxic under Canada’s primary environmental law, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. The decision, which comes despite months of lobbying by Canada’s $28 billion plastics industry, paves the way for a proposed ban on some single- use items. About 3.3 million metric tons of plastic is discarded in Canada each year, and less than 10% (about 305,000 metric tons) is recycled. The remainder goes to landfills, is incinerated, or leaks into rivers, lakes, and oceans, according to a 2019 study commissioned by Environment and Climate Change Canada. And hats off to the countries and companies looking to provide solutions (as tentative or fragile as those measures may be). Yes, there already exists “hemp plastic.” But as the name suggests, there is still plastic incorporated, and in some instances, only 10% of plant matter is even involved in the process... So questions around the biodegradability and sustainability remain. The other problem with traditional biodegradable plastics to solve is cost. Past biodegradable polymers were far too expensive to create widespread consumer demand. To succeed, solutions also need to be affordable. Meanwhile, in the cannabis industry, every kilo of dried flower comes with eight kilos of plant waste. To comply with regulations, this waste must be destroyed. For many cannabis producers, this means incineration or mixing with their waste chemicals before sending it all to a landfill.
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June 2021
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