The Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN) will support two food sector single-use plastic reduction and replacement programs for $2,509,779. Food Innovation Challenge Program projects exceed $5 million. Food Cycle Science and Copol International received Food Innovation Challenge funds. Ottawa, Ontario's Food Cycle Science (FCS) and its partners, Weaving Baskets Group and Bridgehead Coffee want to use enzymes with their FoodCycler (FC) system to quickly break down biodegradable plastics and food waste into a soil amendment to reduce plastics and create a more sustainable food system—$ 1,650,820 from CFIN. Biodegradable polymers may reduce plastics. However, we need long-term, affordable solutions to increase biodegradable plastic use and client confidence. This "one-bin" system will treat food trash and bioplastics concurrently, accelerating bioplastic adoption and eliminating single-use and non-durable food service items. This accessible and fair approach will help remote, rural, and Indigenous communities narrow the infrastructural gap. Sustainability shouldn't require people or businesses to forsake comfort or convenience. This project shows our commitment to user-friendly, low-cost, and broadly available solutions. FCS CEO Brand Crepeau said, "If we can make it much easier for individuals to make sustainable choices, we can speed up the adoption of biodegradable plastics, cut down on food waste, and help create a more circular economy." The Verschurenand GN Thermoforming Equipment works with Copol International (Sydney, N.S.) to produce multifunctional biopolymer food packaging that extends food shelf life and reduces environmental effects. It will cost $858,959.55. We can develop food-industry biopolymers and test their compostability in municipal compost facilities. Biopolymers can outperform non-renewable plastics and easily incorporate and scale into plastics manufacturers' infrastructure. Several biopolymer compositions will be scaled up and improved based on successful bench-scale extrusions. Prototype-optimized food film bioplastics will be mass-produced for pilot deployment with industry partners. The multipurpose platform of bioplastics offers an enticing alternative to food packaging and other products covered by the federal Single-Use Plastics Prohibition Regulations. Copol International innovates, reduces plastics waste, and makes plastics more environmentally friendly. CFIN will scale up our bench-scale work at the Verschuren Centre to produce and test biodegradable biopolymer films in the region. Copol International Vice President and General Manager Denis Lanoe believes this will help the company compete internationally and position Canada as a leader in biopolymer-based packaging solutions. CFIN requested inventive, long-term finance to eradicate, replace, and recycle plastics in Canada's food business. Plastics plague modern economies like Canada. Packaging generates 47% of plastic trash, but 87% of US plastic waste is in landfills or the environment. Because single-use plastics are rarely recovered or diverted from waste streams, innovative methods to improve food product recyclability or industrial compostability are needed. CFIN received 11 Food Innovation Challenge entries. Canada's 4.4 million tonnes of plastic trash comes mainly from the food industry. The Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Food Innovation Network, Dana McCauley, stated, "These two endeavors are great examples of the way Canadian innovation is tackling the increasing plastics issue and creating novel and environmentally friendly methods to move the food sector forward."

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