Policymakers worldwide are increasingly adopting circular economy policies to reduce the impacts of resource extraction, consumption and waste, recognizing the need for coordinated action across all levels of government.
Canada’s circularity rate – the share of recycled materials in total material consumption – is below the global average and trails leaders such as the Netherlands and Italy. Jurisdictional complexity remains a key barrier, contributing to fragmented and poorly aligned policies.
This paper maps Canada’s circular economy policy landscape, outlining the methodology used to inventory existing policies and providing a snapshot of initiatives at the municipal, provincial/territorial and national levels.