Environment and Climate Change Canada sponsored Canadian Plastics Innovation Challenge winners
Backgrounder
Challenge 1: Separation of Mixed Plastics
Find new ways to separate mixed plastics for recycling.
| Company | Location | Technology Description | Funding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xtract Technologies | Vancouver, BC | The proposed solution would use computer vision and machine learning to detect contaminants and identify various plastic types within the recycling sorting process. With minimal changes to current infrastructure, an additional real-time service would include live estimates of contaminant levels within plastic bales. | $148,800 |
| Sweet GazOil | Montréal, QC | The proposed solution uses Surface Flash Cracking (a type of pyrolysis) to turn mixed-waste plastics into valuable products. | $150,000 |
Challenge 2: Construction Waste
Identify ways to reduce and recycle plastic construction waste.
| Company | Location | Technology Description | Funding |
|---|---|---|---|
| GreenMantra | Brantford, ON | The proposed solution would break down polystyrene construction waste through catalysis to produce shorter chain (lower molecular weight) polystyrene additives, which could then be used to produce lighter (less plastic), better performing, and more sustainable (higher-recycled content) new polystyrene insulation. | $150,000 |
| MgO Systems | Calgary, AB | The proposed solution would combine waste PVC from construction activities with magnesium oxide composites to produce new insulating materials. This would be a fire retardant-protected alternative to pure petroleum-based rigid insulation. Most PVC currently goes to landfills due to its inherent difficulty of being recycled. This solution uses those same properties to improve product performance where material stability is a benefit. | $113,000 |
Challenge 3: Food Packaging
Find smart packaging design and other solutions to reduce plastic waste.
| Company | Location | Technology Description | Funding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copol International Ltd. | Sydney, NS | The proposed solution involves incorporating biodegradable components extracted from marine waste into cast polypropylene. This would impart antimicrobial and antioxidant properties to the film, extending the shelf life of packaged fresh food and replacing currently non-recyclable films. This solution would reduce plastic waste while using marine waste that would otherwise require disposal. | $150,000 |
| Axipolymer | Saint Léonard, QC | The proposed solution is to create a recyclable multi-layer film that can be used for food packaging. | $150,000 |
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