Today, leading food, beverage and consumer products manufacturers, retailers and restaurants officially launched Circular Materials, a new, national producer responsibility organization (PRO) offering compliance services to companies obligated under extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations in Canada.

The 15 companies that founded Circular Materials are Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd., Empire Company, Kraft-Heinz Canada, Keurig Dr Pepper Canada, Lassonde Industries Inc., Loblaw Companies Limited, Maple Leaf Foods, McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited, Metro Inc., The Minute Maid Company Canada Inc., Nestlé Canada, PepsiCo Canada, Procter & Gamble Inc., Restaurant Brands International (RBI), and The Clorox Company of Canada Inc.

Circular Materials is a not-for-profit, producer-governed PRO that was incorporated on July 6, 2021, following the release of Ontario's Blue Box Regulation. In Ontario, this national organization will operate as Circular Materials Ontario and will provide a full suite of compliance services to producers.

Producers are companies that supply designated products and packaging (plastic, glass, metal or paper) to Ontario consumers. From July 1, 2023, to Jan. 1, 2026, the Blue Box Regulation requires the transition of the province's more-than 250 local blue box programs to a new, province-wide collection system funded by producers and operated by PROs.

To prepare for this transition, PROs must create rules for operating the blue box collection system and submit these rules to the regulator next year. According to the regulation, PROs representing 66% of the supplied tonnage of blue box materials must agree to the rules before they can take effect.    

Circular Materials Ontario will represent producers' collective interests in establishing these rules, with the goal of ensuring that the blue box collection system operates with fair cost allocation, an open and competitive procurement process, and strong producer-led governance.

As producers participating in recycling programs across the country, Circular Materials' founders have created an organization specifically tailored to support producers with meeting all the requirements of Ontario's Blue Box Regulation. These services include:

• Strong representation for producers in the development of the blue box collection system and the rules for its operation.
• Effective and transparent producer governance with meaningful producer engagement.
• Secure data management for reporting supply and recycling performance to the regulator.
• Commitment to achieving management targets for all material categories (rigid plastic, flexible plastic, metal, glass, paper and beverage containers).
• Cost efficiency through competitive procurement of collection and processing services.
• A system of fair cost allocation among participating producers. 
• Support for producers in meeting their recycled content commitments.
• Clear and compelling consumer promotion and education.

To learn more, visit www.CircularMaterials.ca.

Quotes:

"Coca-Cola is committed to creating a World Without Waste. This includes collecting and recycling the equivalent of 100% of the bottles and cans we sell by 2030. Through our new partnership with Circular Materials, we will effectively turn old packages into new ones, and keep plastic out of the environment." – Darlene Nicosia, President, Canada and Northeast US, North America Operating Unit, The Coca-Cola Company and Minute Maid Canada.

 "In Canada and across the world, Costco is committed to doing its part to help and contribute to real, results-driven positive impact. Joining Circular Materials as a founding member is a unique opportunity for Costco to work in collaboration with other producers in creating a not-for-profit organization that will support industry with meeting its regulatory obligations and building a circular economy." - Pierre Riel, Senior Vice President and Country Manager, Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd.

"Keurig Dr Pepper Canada is proud to be a founding member of Circular Materials, and to have the opportunity to work with other leading organizations and associations to the advancement of an improved, and more circular recycling system in Ontario. Building a circular economy will require dedicated commitment from all producers and stakeholders along the value chain, and we are confident that the founding members of Circular Materials can efficiently support this transition with a focus on innovation, cost efficiency and fair competition." – Stéphane Glorieux, President of Keurig Dr Pepper Canada.

"We are pleased to be joining Circular Materials, a producer-led, not-for-profit producer responsibility organization (PRO), as the next step in the evolution of providing blue box recycling services in Ontario. In addition to helping improve recycling rates, joining this PRO supports our ambition to move toward a more circular economy, which is good for everyone" – Bruno Keller, President, Kraft Heinz Canada.

"Over a century ago, Lassonde's dream was to help local fruit growers with their surplus crops. Today our challenge is to rethink long held recycling rules and processes with the goal of better supporting Ontarians. With this in mind, Lassonde is proud to join leading food, beverage and consumer manufacturers, as well as retailers and restaurants in launching Circular Materials." -- Jean Gattuso, President & CEO, Lassonde Industries Inc.   

"As some of the largest users of consumer packaging, we understand the importance of making sure the recycling system in Ontario operates efficiently and cost effectively. Circular Materials is a great step forward as producers embrace the challenge of improving Ontario's recycling system, together." – Ian Gordon, SVP Plastics, Loblaw Companies Limited. 

"Becoming a founding member of Circular Materials is an important step in Maple Leaf Foods' journey to be the most sustainable protein company on earth.  This not-for-profit Producer Responsibility Organization will be essential to Ontario's recycling supply chain and will lead in building a circular economy for recyclable materials for all Ontarians." – Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods.

"Working towards a waste-free future is an urgent priority for us at Nestlé and it requires industry to work together, which is why we are proud to be a founding member of Circular Materials. This is a producer created organization that supports our ambition to collect and recycle all the packaging we produce and ensure that no waste ends up in nature." – John Carmichael, President and CEO, Nestlé Canada Inc.

"Tim Hortons has made significant progress in our efforts to be a Canadian leader in sustainable business practices. Sustainable packaging and recycling are a major component in our Tim's For Good framework and we are proud to be a founding member of Circular Materials on behalf of our 1,500 Tim Hortons franchisees across Canada." – Duncan Fulton, Chief Corporate Office for Restaurant Brands International (Tim Hortons, Popeyes and Burger King).

GURU Organic Energy Corp. (TSX: GURU) (“GURU” or the “Company”), Canada’s leading organic energy drink brand, has been making the most of the Canadian summertime, leading a nationwide community clean-up initiative. From Halifax to Vancouver, the GURU Good Crew, created specifically for the occasion, has been giving back to nature and the environment. From riverbanks to skateparks, to hiking and bike trails, the GURU Good Crew has been hard at work collecting litter and giving a shiny new look to the sites that make summer worth waiting for.

“Getting closer to nature is a sure way to connect to your own, true nature, and that’s why we are committed to cleaning up our incredible landscape from coast to coast – places we go to recharge and re-energize. We’re proud of what we have accomplished to date and look forward to tackling over 25 additional sites Canada-wide in the next two months,” said Carl Goyette, President and Chief Executive Officer of GURU.

Having already completed over 50% of its ambitious objective of hosting close to 60 clean-ups across the country’s top cities and outdoor playgrounds between June and September, the GURU Good Crew is on a roll, with teams deployed over five sites in British Columbia, six in Alberta, 13 in Ontario, eight in Québec, and two more locations in Atlantic Canada. Another 25 clean-ups are expected to take place by the fall in Toronto, Ottawa, Halifax, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver on July 28 and September 26, and at the Port de Québec on September 18.

As public health measures continue to ease across the country, now is the time to come together to enjoy the great outdoors. With World Nature Conservation Day on July 28, GURU is encouraging Canadians to participate in upcoming events to be held at Sunset Beach Trail and George Wainborn Park in Vancouver, Bow River Pathway in Calgary, Lower Don Trail in Toronto and Long Lake Park Reserve Loop Trail in Halifax. It’s your time to shine and to play your part in cleaning up the places that make your summer dreams come to life, with GURU by your side.

Delivering good energy to frontline workers
In parallel to GURU’s commitment to cleaning up the Canadian landscape, teams across the country have been actively supporting frontline workers throughout the summer. In May and June, over 35,000 cans of GURU were donated to frontline workers, including healthcare workers, first responders, and COVID-19 testing and vaccination clinic staff.

Outdoor dining is back from coast-to-coast, but many local restaurants are struggling to ensure customers know their patios are now open. To help vocalize their reopening, Heinz announced today it will be donating $100,000 in free digital advertising to help independent restaurants promote their patios this summer.

Heinz will select 100 operators across the country, each of which will receive $1,000 in free digital advertising.

"It's no secret restaurants have been hit hard by the lockdowns, struggling to keep their doors open. Now that summer is here and outdoor dining is open, they need to maximize sales during this period. That's where Heinz can help," said Lucy Abbruzzese, Director, Food Service Marketing, Kraft Heinz Canada. "As the iconic condiment with a place on every patio, we are thrilled to help boost some of our country's local favourites to help them maximize summer and own patio season."

Restaurant owners are invited to sign up for a chance to win $1,000 worth of digital advertising courtesy of Heinz. This will include social ads featuring patios to drive traffic to operators. To sign up for a chance to win, please visit HeinzPatioPicks.ca. Entries will be accepted beginning today through August 2, 2021 at 11:59pm. Winners will be contacted August 5, 2021, Quebec restaurant locations are excluded from entry.

Redberry today announces a new multi-year development agreement with Taco Bell Canada following Redberry’s agreement to acquire 14 Taco Bell locations across Ontario. Redberry intends to develop 50 Taco Bell restaurants in Canada over the next few years supporting Taco Bell’s plans to expand its footprint across the country.

Redberry Restaurants, one of the largest and fastest growing quick-service restaurant franchisees in Canada with 135 restaurants across four provinces, will acquire Taco Bell restaurants in Brantford, Guelph, Hamilton, Hannon, Kitchener, London, Mississauga, Saint Thomas and Toronto.

“We are thrilled to be joining the Taco Bell family and expanding our portfolio of Redberry Restaurants across Canada,” said Ken Otto, CEO, Redberry Restaurants. “The entrepreneurial, ambitious spirit of the Redberry team aligns very well with the fun and youthful Taco Bell brand loved by all generations, and together, we look forward to exemplifying the essence of ‘Live Mas’.”

The new partnership comes on the heels of a year of growth for Taco Bell Canada, following the recent launch of a new online ordering platform on tacobell.ca and the expansion of delivery options through DoorDash and Uber Eats for Taco Bell customers across Canada.

“We are excited to welcome Redberry Restaurants into the growing Taco Bell family of franchisees, partners and team members to help bring an unmatched customer experience to our fans,” said Matthew Shaw, General Manager, Taco Bell Canada. “Redberry’s franchise and business expertise will be a great addition as we continue to grow the Taco Bell brand in Canada and get our favourite menu items into the hands of more Canadians!”

Customers can order all their Taco Bell favourites, including Tacos, Crunchwraps and Fries Supreme, from each of the 14 newly managed locations, or any other Taco Bell Canada restaurants for delivery and pick-up through www.tacobell.ca or via Uber Eats and DoorDash.