Canadian packaging rules, in plain words

Packaging rules in Canada come from Ottawa, the provinces and some cities. This page sums up the rules that most often change what our Canadian customers order. It is a summary, not legal advice: check the source and your own city before you order.

Federal: single-use plastics

• Canada's Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations ban the sale of plastic checkout bags, cutlery, stir sticks, straws and food-service ware made of polystyrene foam, PVC, carbon black or oxo-degradable plastic; the sale ban has been in force since 20 December 2023. Environment and Climate Change Canada says the rules remain in force after the Federal Court of Appeal upheld them on 30 January 2026. (source, read 18 October 2026)
• In October 2026 the Supreme Court of Canada agreed to hear a further appeal of the federal single-use plastics ban, so the case is not fully settled yet. (source, read 18 October 2026)
• What it means for your order: paper and paperboard containers, cups, bags and wraps are not on the federal list. Foam and PVC food containers are.

Federal: English and French on food labels

• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says mandatory information on consumer prepackaged food must be shown in both official languages, French and English. (source, read 20 October 2026)
• What it means for your order: if your box, pouch or label is the product's label, plan space for both languages. Send both texts and we set them on the dieline before the proof.

Ontario

• Since 1 January 2026, Ontario's Blue Box program is fully run and paid for by producers, the companies that supply packaging and paper to Ontario consumers. (source, read 18 October 2026)
• Toronto's Single-Use and Takeaway Items Bylaw has been in force since 1 March 2024: shops and restaurants ask first, or wait for a request, before handing out utensils, straws, napkins, condiment packets, cup trays and paper shopping bags, and must accept customers' reusable bags and cups. (source, read 18 October 2026)

British Columbia

• Under B.C.'s Single-Use and Plastic Waste Prevention Regulation, since 15 July 2024 plastic shopping bags are banned, new paper bags cost at least $0.25 and new reusable bags at least $2.00, and food-service ware made of polystyrene foam, PVC, PVDC or compostable, biodegradable or oxo-degradable plastic is banned. (source, read 18 October 2026)
• Producers of packaging and paper sold to B.C. residents must run or join an approved recycling plan under the provincial Recycling Regulation; Recycle BC runs that program on their behalf. (source, read 18 October 2026)

Quebec

• Since 1 January 2025, Quebec's curbside recycling is run under producer responsibility, with Éco Entreprises Québec covering the costs. (source, read 18 October 2026)
• Since 1 June 2025, generic and descriptive words on a product or its packaging must also appear in French in Quebec, even when they are part of a registered trademark. (source, read 18 October 2026)
• Montréal's bylaw on single-use items, in force since March 2023, bars food businesses from giving out plastic cups, straws, stir sticks and dine-in utensils, and containers made of polystyrene (#6) or compostable plastic (#7). Plastic-coated paper cups are still allowed. (source, read 18 October 2026)

Alberta and Manitoba

• Alberta's extended producer responsibility system for single-use products, packaging and paper launched on 1 April 2025 and its final phase took effect on 1 October 2026. (source, read 18 October 2026)
• In Manitoba, printed paper and packaging is managed through a shared responsibility program with producers through Multi-Material Stewardship Manitoba (MMSM). (source, read 19 October 2026)

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