Thank you.

Good evening, honourable members of the committee. I am Sarika Kumari, CEO of BioLabMate. It is an honour to speak with you today on the subject of innovation, science and research in recycling plastics, with a particular emphasis on the critical issue of plastic waste generated in research labs and medical facilities.

Globally, we generate approximately 300 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with a significant portion attributed to the medical and research sector. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified this challenge, increasing reliance on PPE, testing kits and other disposable plastic items. Research labs alone contribute around 5.5 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, a number equivalent to the total plastic waste output of some small countries.

Single-use plastic in research labs remains a significant but frequently overlooked problem. For instance, a single lab can produce around 44,600 pieces of single-use plastic monthly, depending on the size of the lab, costing in Canadian dollars between $14,000 and $18,000 and weighing up to 60 kilograms or 80 kilograms. When you scale across entire university and research institutes, the magnitude of the problem becomes clear.

At BioLabMate we conducted extensive market research, engaging with over 100 potential customers in research and health care settings. Through this process, we identified bioplastics as a viable and sustainable solution. Our focus is on utilizing locally available renewable resources, specifically seaweed, to create bioplastic that can replace traditional single-use plastic items seamlessly.

While recycling has long been promoted as a solution to plastic waste, it is not enough to address the scale of the issue. Recycling is often hindered by several challenges—for example, contamination. Plastics mixed with food and other waste are difficult to recycle effectively. There are infrastructure gaps. Canada's recycling infrastructure is insufficient for the handling of all recyclable materials. There's also downcycling. Plastics often degrade in quality after recycling, making them unsuitable for reuse in precision environments like research labs.

To address the challenges, we recommend stricter regulations on what types of plastics can be recycled, investment in advanced recycling technologies, and public education, particularly in the research lab, to improve recycling practices and reduce contamination.

At BioLabMate we view bioplastics as a crucial part of the solution to plastic waste in research labs. Unlike conventional plastics derived from fossil fuels, bioplastics are made from such renewable resources as seaweed. These bioplastics are designed to be biodegradable or compostable, significantly reducing their environmental impact. Our seaweed-based bioplastics are ideal for replacing single-use items in labs, such as tips, plates and tubes, thereby cutting both waste and carbon emissions.

Seaweed as the primary material for our bioplastics offers a host of benefits. For example, on environmental impact, seaweed is a rapidly renewable resource that absorbs CO2, helping to mitigate climate change. It grows without fresh water, fertilizers or pesticides, making it a sustainable alternative to land-based crops. In terms of the economic opportunity, seaweed farming provides a new source of revenue for coastal communities, especially in Atlantic Canada, offering job creation and economic diversification.

Despite the potential of bioplastics, there are hurdles to overcome. For example, there's the cost. Currently, bioplastics are more expensive than traditional plastics, but we anticipate that costs will decrease with growing demand and increased production. In terms of infrastructure, the limited number of industrial composting facilities in Canada hinders the proper degradation of these bioplastics. There's also R and D support. Continued research is essential to improve the performance and cost-effectiveness of bioplastics.

We urge the government to provide grants and subsidies for companies like BioLabMate that are developing sustainable alternatives; mandate the use of bioplastics in high-risk sectors, particularly health care and research; support research and development to accelerate bioplastics adoption; and expand composting infrastructure to ensure that bioplastics are processed correctly.

Recycling alone cannot solve Canada's plastic waste crisis. A combined approach of improved recycling practices and the adoption of bioplastics is essential. BioLabMate’s seaweed-based bioplastics offer a sustainable and scalable alternative, particularly for the research and medical sectors. With government support, Canada can lead the transition to a circular economy, significantly reducing both plastic waste and its environmental impact.

Thank you for your time. I look forward to your questions.