The Natural Step Canada Launches Ontario Circular Economy Innovation Lab Initiative

The Natural Step Canada, a nonprofit organization that helps organizations and individuals understand and make meaningful progress toward sustainability, has launched a new initiative entitled Ontario Circular Economy Innovation Lab (CEIL). With this new initiative, the nonprofit aims to accelerate Ontario’s transition to a circular economy.

On Wednesday, the nonprofit held its initiative launch event at Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto, where business and municipal leaders and the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Ontario Glen Murray highlighted the challenges and opportunities for the Providence of Ontario as it makes the switch to a circular, low-carbon economy.

“Together, Ontario’s Waste-Free Ontario Act and Climate Change Action Plan will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions while moving our province toward a circular economy—a system where materials are not discarded, but reused or recycled into new products,” said Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Ontario Glen Murray in a press release. “I commend The Natural Step and everyone taking part in this Circular Economy Innovation Lab for demonstrating leadership in Ontario’s transition to this new framework. Managing our resources more effectively will benefit Ontarians, our environment and economy and help our companies become more competitive in the global marketplace.”

Over the next four years, CEIL, which brings together private and public sector leaders and innovators from Ontario to generate, test and implement circular economy solutions, will provide a platform for ongoing experimentation, innovation and collaboration to create breakthroughs that support the providence’s transition to a circular economy.

“Our goal is to identify and support innovative solutions to accelerate the transition to a circular economy,” says Chris Lindberg, director of the Ontario Circular Economy Innovation Lab, in a press release. “We’re inviting public and private sector leaders from across Ontario to join us in this work and participate in our Rapid Lab and Fellowship programs.”

First on CEIL’s agenda is the Printed Paper and Packaging Rapid Lab, which will help develop a vision for the future of printed paper and packaging materials in a circular economy. Additionally, the providence will work toward creating more well-paying jobs for residents.

“Ontario now has the opportunity to become an environmental and economic leader in North America by making the transition to a more circular economy,” said Peter Hargreave, acting chief executive officer of the Ontario Waste Management Association, in a press release. “This economic shift will increase resource recovery and cut greenhouse gas emissions while growing the provincial economy and creating good, well-paying jobs for Ontarians.”