‭1‬
‭Introduction‬
‭The impact of plastic pollution on Canadian marine ecosystems is a growing issue that is‬
‭being heavily affected by global patterns of waste management. Due to the low cost and easily‬
‭accessible nature of plastics, it has become entirely ubiquitous both throughout the world and in‬
‭our daily lives. Understanding and analysing multiple factors of plastic pollution in marine‬
‭ecosystems is essential. Many individual marine organic entities have been noticed experiencing‬
‭snare or ingestion of plastics - from zooplankton, corals and fish to ocean turtles, seals, whales‬
‭and seabirds (Stop plastic pollution 2022). Plastic contamination can likewise upset the food‬
‭chain in marine biological systems. The issue of plastic pollution is not a singular issue; it is a‬
‭social issue that encompasses all living beings that can influence trends, and technological‬
‭advancements, such as biodegradable plastics and waste-to-technology, are all methods to repair‬
‭and prevent what has been done. The Canadian marine ecosystem has been negatively impacted‬
‭by plastic pollution, but the government is at aid to help legally protect waters as it is crucial to‬
‭Canadian biodiversity. It is essential to take a more profound analysis of what is currently being‬
‭done to fight against plastic pollution in marine ecosystems, what preventative measures need to‬
‭be in place, and what the direct and indirect effects are on Canadian waters. As a group, we‬
‭decided to examine the impact of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems using a PESTEL‬
‭framework. We chose this topic not only because it is a general interest for us all, but it is also a‬
‭growing problem that needs to be analysed to understand what is happening currently, and what‬
‭needs to be done for the future.‬
‭Political‬
‭Every federal election is an opportunity to have our voices heard and lands an‬
‭opportunity to incite positive change towards Canada. The current Liberal government has been‬
‭in power since 2015, as a result we can examine the policies enacted and their climate plan. Most‬
‭of the plastic in Canada does not get recycled (Liberal Party of Canada, n.d., sec. Zero Plastic‬
‭2‬
‭Waste by 2030), to make matters worse a lot of the plastic ends up in many bodies of water‬
‭(Alliance for the Great Lakes, 2022). This is a cause for concern, and the current government‬
‭aims to make Canada have zero plastic waste by 2030 (Liberal Party of Canada, n.d., sec. Zero‬
‭Plastic Waste by 2030). The government plans to achieve this goal by improving coordinated‬
‭efforts between different levels of government, and enforce that all packaging made of plastic‬
‭must be made of 50% recycled content (Alliance for the Great Lakes, 2022). Among the efforts‬
‭of Canada’s Liberal government to reduce pollution and to protect marine life is that the‬
‭government in 2015, has set a goal that at least 10 percent of its ocean is protected by 2020, the‬
‭good news is that Canada has met and exceeded its goal as of 2020. Canada has 14 percent of its‬
‭oceans protected, and we must strive to protect more of our oceans in order to ensure the future‬
‭of Canada’s Waters and its organisms whose environment it is (Key Actions Since 2015 to Fight‬
‭Climate Change | Liberal Party of Canada, n.d.).‬
‭Another key goal the current Liberal government has set forth is that 25 percent of‬
‭Canada’s waters and land will be protected (Key Actions Since 2015 to Fight Climate Change |‬
‭Liberal Party of Canada, n.d.). In an effort to protect marine life the Liberals have included a‬
‭plan on protecting and cleaning the oceans, appropriately named “Clean and Healthy Oceans”‬
‭(Clean and Healthy Oceans | Liberal Party of Canada, n.d.). The Liberals aim to protect marine‬
‭life in the oceans and keep the ocean clean of any pollution.‬
‭Another step outlined by the Liberal government is to increase investments into projects‬
‭that are geared towards rebuilding the habitats of marine life, and green technologies (Clean and‬
‭Healthy Oceans | Liberal Party of Canada, n.d.). Not only does the current Liberal government‬
‭outline plans to clean up the ocean and protect its marine life, they also plan to improve the state‬
‭of Canada’s fresh waters (Freshwater | Liberal Party of Canada, n.d.). The Liberal government‬
‭plans to introduce a new Canada Water Agency, and are aiming to update the Water Act‬
‭(Freshwater | Liberal Party of Canada, n.d.). Along with the new agency and the updating of the‬
‭3‬
‭Water Act, the Liberal party wishes to invest 1 billion dollars to fund such a plan and ensure that‬
‭freshwaters in Canada are protected (Freshwater | Liberal Party of Canada, n.d.).‬
‭Economic‬
‭The economy is a very important factor that impacts every aspect of life, as it is a‬
‭representation of the prosperity of a nation and its citizens. As a result, this factor is very‬
‭important to analyse in the discussion of the impacts plastic pollution has on marine ecosystems.‬
‭There are many economic opportunities for job and wealth creation that depend on the health and‬
‭reduction of plastic waste in Canada's waterways, including fisheries and aquatic tourism. These‬
‭industries are especially important for coastal communities, both rural and urban (Primavera,‬
‭2006).‬
‭For example, fishing and related industries contribute most of the economic activity in‬
‭many towns and villages on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, especially in the maritime provinces,‬
‭where a large bulk of their economic activity are related to fisheries and related processing‬
‭industries (“Fishing Industry in Canada”, 2022). As of 2020, about 68,100 were employed in the‬
‭fisheries industry in Canada, contributing to an export value of approximately $8.79 billion in‬
‭seafood products in 2021 (“Fishing Industry in Canada'', 2022). Strong growth in export value of‬
‭seafood demonstrates that there is immense potential for growth in this industry because of‬
‭Canada's geography, being surrounded on 3 sides by ocean, as well as having over 32,000 inland‬
‭lakes, which all need to provide healthy aquatic ecosystems for this industry to flourish (“Fishing‬
‭Industry in Canada”, 2022).‬
‭Another industry heavily dependent on reducing plastic waste in marine environments is‬
‭aquatic tourism, including cottage real estate, beach tourism, and marine sports such as surfing,‬
‭kayaking, and canoeing. The economic benefit of this tourism is immense on nearby‬
‭communities, which are usually smaller communities with small populations. The large influx of‬
‭tourists from other parts of the country and abroad greatly expand the consumer base that local‬
‭4‬
‭businesses can advertise and sell to, increasing sales and profits. The ability to attract these‬
‭tourists in great numbers is very dependent on clean water and healthy marine life, from a visual‬
‭attractiveness perspective and from a health and safety perspective (Hewer & Gough, 2017).‬
‭Keeping waters clean and reducing plastic waste in marine ecosystems is very important to‬
‭maintaining the viability of local businesses with a large enough consumer base, in addition to‬
‭supporting the largely rural communities they inhabit (Hewer & Gough, 2017). Unfortunately,‬
‭the economic burden on municipal governments for waste management in reducing plastic waste‬
‭in marine environments would be large, and require significant labour and equipment over large‬
‭areas of water bodies (Primavera, 2006).‬
‭Social‬
‭Social factors are an essential component of the PESTEL analysis when considering the‬
‭impact of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems in Canada, as this problem involves people of‬
‭all demographics regardless of age, gender, race, etc. Social factors encompass the cultural,‬
‭social, and demographic trends influencing people's attitudes and behaviours toward plastic use‬
‭and disposal. Regarding plastic pollution’s impact on marine life in Canada, social factors can‬
‭play a significant role in driving behaviour change and shaping public opinion on this issue.‬
‭One significant socio-cultural factor affecting plastic pollution in Canada is the increasing‬
‭public awareness and concern about plastic waste's impact on the environment. Environmental‬
‭campaigns and media coverage have raised awareness about the subject, and many Canadians are‬
‭becoming more conscious of it. This has led to increased pressure on businesses and‬
‭governments to take action to reduce plastic waste (Abalansa et. al, 2020).‬
‭Another social factor around this topic is the growing trend towards eco-consciousness‬
‭and sustainability in Canadian society. Many Canadians are adopting a more sustainable lifestyle,‬
‭including reducing plastic waste, using reusable products, and recycling. This trend has led to the‬
‭emergence of new business models, such as zero-waste stores, that cater to environmentally‬
‭5‬
‭conscious consumers (Walker et al., 2021). However, there are still challenges in changing‬
‭sociocultural attitudes and behaviours toward plastic use and disposal. One challenge is the‬
‭convenience and affordability of plastic products, which make them a popular choice for‬
‭consumers. Another challenge is that although there has been increasing awareness of plastic‬
‭waste’s impact on the environment, there is still a lack of attention and education surrounding‬
‭this issue, which can lead to apathy and an absence of action (Luo et al., 2022).‬
‭To address these challenges, education and awareness programs can be implemented to‬
‭inform Canadians about the impact of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems (Luo, et al., 2022).‬
‭Governments, businesses, and NGOs can collaborate to promote sustainable waste management‬
‭practices, including the use of reusable products, recycling, and responsible disposal of plastic‬
‭waste (Nielson et al., 2020). Cultural influencers can also be engaged to promote eco-friendly‬
‭lifestyles and behaviours toward plastic use and disposal. Ultimately, changing sociocultural‬
‭attitudes and behaviours towards plastic use and disposal is critical to reducing plastic pollution‬
‭in Canada's marine ecosystems (Abalansa et. al, 2020).‬
‭Technological‬
‭Most plastic waste, around 8 million metric tons, ends up in the water yearly,‬
‭endangering marine life (Parker, 2019). To combat this issue, technological solutions are crucial‬
‭to reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainable practices. One way out is to develop‬
‭technology to keep plastics from entering streams, gather marine and riverine plastic‬
‭contamination, or use alternative plant-based plastics/other products (Schmaltz et al., 2020).‬
‭The methods and natural cycles driving these impurities rely upon their size.‬
‭Biodegradable plastics are designed to break down naturally in the environment, eliminating the‬
‭need for plastic waste to be disposed of in oceans. This solution has the potential to significantly‬
‭reduce the amount of plastic waste in the water bodies, as well as reduce the environmental‬
‭impact of traditional plastics. Another solution is the implementation of waste-to-energy‬
‭6‬
‭technologies. Waste-to-energy technologies convert plastic waste into usable energy through‬
‭pyrolysis or gasification. This reduces the amount of plastic waste in the water bodies and‬
‭provides a renewable energy source that can be used to power homes and businesses. New‬
‭technologies such as chemical and mechanical recycling can increase the efficiency of recycling‬
‭plastic waste, reducing plastic waste in the ocean. Moreover, using innovative technology can‬
‭help prevent plastic pollution from entering to water in the first place. For example, installing‬
‭intelligent bins equipped with sensors and cameras can help monitor waste disposal and ensure‬
‭that waste is sorted correctly and recycled. Additionally, blockchain technology can help track‬
‭plastic waste throughout its lifecycle, providing greater transparency and accountability in waste‬
‭management.‬
‭Various NGOs, groups, companies and governments have ventured to reduce plastic‬
‭pollution and spread awareness. The UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out a‬
‭wide-ranging set of targets for better stewardship of ocean resources – including better‬
‭management of fisheries, large and small; protection of essential marine resources; and‬
‭sustainable development for the Small Island Developing States (SIDS). (Leape, 2018). Plastic‬
‭cleanup advances should be utilised with other precaution arrangements, such as supportable,‬
‭biodegradable material to supplant plastic or further developed squander the board frameworks.‬
‭Environmental‬
‭Plastic is a low-cost product that is extremely prominent in one's daily life. It is a very‬
‭useful material that people have innovated to make our lives easier through various aspects‬
‭discussed. However, due to poor waste management and the plastics' combined durability have‬
‭resulted in an estimated 60% of plastics products ever produced globally have accumulated into‬
‭the environment (Yakobowski, 2019).‬
‭One of the heavily affected systems of marine plastic pollution is the mammals‬
‭themselves. Single-use plastic litter is found on the shorelines of Canada, The Secretariat of the‬
‭7‬
‭Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) reported in 2016 that 817 Canadian marine species‬
‭had been affected by marine litter, 80% of it being plastic (Health Canada, 2020). Macroplastics‬
‭cause physical harm to animals, as they can become entangled, leading to strangulation and‬
‭death. Animals will also ingest these microplastics leading to suffocation or starvation and‬
‭ultimately death. A secondary and unintentional consequence of microplastics in relation to‬
‭humans is ingestion. Plastics are now apart our food chain, starting at the bottom. Organisms‬
‭mistake microplastics for plankton and ingest them, the predators then feed on prey that has‬
‭ingested plastics, then humans hunt and consume these predators.‬
‭The improper disposal of plastic waste is the main issue in the global plastic leakage that‬
‭has led plastic pollution to be traced in remote locations like the Arctic. The life cycle of plastic‬
‭can be upwards of hundreds of years, and it has an enormous carbon footprint. In 2019, 1.8‬
‭billion tonnes of greenhouse gases were emitted, where 90% of the emissions came from‬
‭production (OECD, 2019).‬
‭As plastics break down, they become smaller particles and release greenhouse gases‬
‭contributing to climate change increasing carbon footprints. Another issue is that microplastics‬
‭affect the ability of marine organisms to absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. 50% of‬
‭Earth's oxygen comes from the ocean, but plastics negatively impact the natural cycle, where‬
‭flora and fauna are dying, less carbon dioxide is absorbed, and the ability to keep climate change‬
‭under control is further setback (Edmond, 2022). With Canada having the longest coastline in the‬
‭world, and one-quarter of the world's freshwater, it has a unique opportunity and great‬
‭responsibility to address this issue.‬
‭Legal‬
‭The question of who owns the bodies of water? Is a tricky yet necessary question to‬
‭answer. Answering this question helps determine who is responsible for which body of water and‬
‭whose job is to maintain this vital resource. In 1999 the Canadian government passed the‬
‭8‬
‭Canadian Environmental Protection Act, officially declaring the importance of conserving the‬
‭environment for the well-being of Canadians (Federal Government, 2021, para. 1). The role the‬
‭government plays within the context of conserving the environment and reducing pollution is‬
‭vital because the governments all the way from the federal to the local government can influence‬
‭and sway the behaviour of its population with the various bills and laws that pass. There are‬
‭many agreements in place to divide the jurisdiction governments have over the bodies of water in‬
‭Canada; different levels of government have a responsibility to maintain these bodies of water,‬
‭although their responsibilities may differ (‬‭Government‬‭of Canada‬‭, n.d., sec. Introduction). The‬
‭main difference between the responsibilities of the provincial and federal governments is that the‬
‭provincial government “‬‭have wide responsibilities‬‭in their day-to-day management‬‭”‬
‭(‬‭Government of Canada‬‭, n.d., sec. Water Policy) and‬‭the federal government’s responsibilities‬
‭are more specific as they take care of waters that are along international borders (‬‭Government of‬
‭Canada‬‭, n.d., sec. Introduction). The major side effect‬‭of polluting water bodies in Canada is that‬
‭every living thing in an environment reliant on access to clean water will be affected. As a result,‬
‭one of the most vulnerable to such pollution is the marine life of Canada; therefore, the‬
‭government has made an effort to conserve marine life. The Canada National Marine‬
‭Conservation Areas Act was made to protect marine life from the effects of water pollution.‬
‭These areas were made with sustainability in mind (Government of Canada, n.d.). Canadian‬
‭Provinces also have their own bills on guidelines for water use. The Ontario Water Resources‬
‭Act is a bill geared towards setting up guidelines for appropriately using water and disposing of‬
‭waste into water (Government of Ontario, 2018). The government of Canada strictly prohibits‬
‭any illegal garbage dumping into Canadian waters, as mentioned in Canada’s Fisheries act of‬
‭1985 (Government of Canada, n.d.-b).‬
‭9‬
‭Bibliography‬
‭Alliance for the Great Lakes. (2022, November 3).‬‭Great Lakes Plastic Pollution.‬
‭https://greatlakes.org/great-lakes-plastic-pollution-fighting-for-plastic-free-water/‬
‭Abalansa, S., El Mahrad, B., Vondolia, G. K., Icely, J., & Newton, A. (2020). The Marine Plastic‬
‭Litter Issue: A Social-Economic Analysis.‬‭Sustainability‬‭,‬‭12‬‭(20), 8677. MDPI AG.‬
‭Retrieved from‬‭http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su12208677‬
‭Canada Action. (2022, February 15).‬‭Fishing Industry‬‭in Canada: By the numbers‬‭. Canada‬
‭Action. Retrieved from‬‭https://www.canadaaction.ca/fishing_industry_canada_by_‬
‭the_numbers#:~:text=It%20is%20a%20major%20economic,for%20many%20towns%20‬
‭and%20villages‬
‭Clean and Healthy Oceans |‬‭Liberal Party of Canada.‬‭(n.d.)‬
‭https://liberal.ca/our-platform/clean-and-healthy-oceans/‬
‭Edmond, C. (2022, January 19).‬‭We Know Plastic Pollution‬‭Is Bad – but How Exactly Is It‬
‭Linked to Climate Change?‬‭Retrieved February 27, 2023,‬‭from‬
‭https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/01/plastic-pollution-climate-change-solution/‬
‭Federal Government. (2021, May 1).‬‭Canadian Environmental‬‭Protection Act, 1999‬‭. Retrieved‬
‭February 20, 2023, from‬‭https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-15.31/page-1.html‬
‭Freshwater‬‭| Liberal Party of Canada.‬‭(n.d.).‬‭https://liberal.ca/our-platform/freshwater/‬
‭Government of Canada. (n.d.-c).‬‭Water governance:‬‭federal policy and legislation - Canada.ca‬‭.‬
‭https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/water-overview/governa‬
‭nce-legislation/federal-policy.html‬
‭Government of Canada. (n.d.).‬‭Canada National Marine‬‭Conservation Areas Act.‬
‭https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-7.3/FullText.html‬
‭Government of Canada. (n.d.-b).‬‭Fisheries Act.‬‭Retrieved‬‭February 20, 2023, from‬
‭https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/F-14/page-1.html‬
‭Government of Ontario. (2018, November 19).‬‭Ontario‬‭Water Resource Act. Ontario.ca.‬
‭Retrieved February 20, 2023, from‬‭https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90o40‬
‭Health Canada. (2020, October). Science assessment of plastic pollution. Retrieved February 27,‬
‭2023, from‬‭https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services‬
‭/evaluating-existing-substances/science-assessment-plastic-pollution.html#toc29‬
‭Hewer, M. J., & Gough, W. A. (2017, July 17).‬‭Thirty‬‭Years of assessing the impacts of climate‬
‭change on outdoor recreation and tourism in Canada‬‭.‬‭Tourism Management‬
‭Perspectives. Retrieved February 27, 2023, from‬
‭https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2211973617300594‬
‭IUCN. (2021, November). Marine plastic pollution. Retrieved February 27, 2023, from‬
‭https://www.iucn.org/resources/issues-brief/marine-plastic-pollution‬
‭Key Actions Since 2015 to Fight Climate Change‬‭| Liberal‬‭Party of Canada. (n.d.).‬
‭https://liberal.ca/our-platform/key-actions-since-2015-to-fight-climate-change/‬
‭10‬
‭Leape, J. (2018, January 11).‬‭Our Oceans are in crisis. here's how technology could save them.‬
‭World Economic Forum‬‭. Retrived from‬‭https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/01/‬
‭our-oceans-are-in-crisis-heres-how-technology-could-save-them/#:~:text=The%20hist‬
‭%20of%20technology%20in,have%20accelerated%20depletion%20and%20pollutionlo‬
‭es-to-address-plastic-pollution‬
‭Liberal Party of Canada. (n.d.).‬‭Zero Plastic Waste‬‭by 2030 |‬‭Liberal Party of Canada. Retrieved‬
‭February 20, 2023, from‬‭https://liberal.ca/our-platform/zero-plastic-waste-by-2030/‬
‭Liou, J. (2021, May 18). Nutec Plastics: Using nuclear technologies to address plastic pollution.‬
‭IAEA.‬‭https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/nutec-plastics-using-nuclear-technologies-t‬
‭o-address-plastic-pollution‬
‭Luo, Y., Douglas, J., Pahl, S., & Zhao, J. (2022). Reducing plastic waste by visualizing marine‬
‭consequences.‬‭Environment and Behavior‬‭,‬‭54‬‭(4), 809-832.‬
‭https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/00139165221090154‬
‭Nielsen, TD, Hasselbalch, J, Holmberg, K, Stripple, J. Politics and the plastic crisis: A review‬
‭throughout the plastic life cycle.‬‭WIREs Energy Environ‬‭.‬‭2020; 9:e360.‬
‭https://doi.org/10.1002/wene.360‬
‭OECD. (2019). Plastic Leakage and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Are Increasing - OECD.‬
‭Retrieved February 27, 2023, from‬‭https://www.oecd.org/environment/plastics/increased-‬
‭plastic-leakage-and-greenhouse-gas-emissions.htm‬
‭Parker, L. (2019, June 7).‬‭The world's plastic pollution‬‭crisis explained.‬‭Environment. Retrieved‬
‭February 26, 2023, from‬
‭https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/plastic-pollution‬
‭Primavera, J. H. (2006, September 1).‬‭Overcoming the‬‭impacts of aquaculture on the Coastal‬
‭Zone‬‭. Ocean & Coastal Management. Retrieved February‬‭27, 2023, from‬
‭https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0964569106000755‬
‭Royer, S.-J., & Deheyn, D. D. (2019). The technological challenges of dealing with plastics in‬
‭the environment. Marine Technology Society Journal, 53(5), 13–20.‬
‭https://doi.org/10.4031/mtsj.53.5.3‬
‭Schmaltz, E., Melvin, E. C., Diana, Z., Gunady, E. F., Rittschof, D., Somarelli, J. A., Virdin, J.,‬
‭& Dunphy-Daly, M. M. (2020). Plastic pollution solutions: Emerging technologies to‬
‭prevent and collect marine plastic pollution. Environment International, 144, 106067.‬
‭https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.106067‬
‭Walker, T.R., McGuinty, E., Charlebois, S.‬‭et al.‬‭Single-use plastic packaging in the Canadian‬
‭food industry: consumer behavior and perceptions.‬‭Humanit Soc Sci Commun‬‭8, 80‬
‭(2021).‬‭https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-021-00747-4‬
‭WWF Australia. (2021, July 1). The lifecycle of plastics. Retrieved February 27, 2023, from‬
‭https://www.wwf.org.au/news/blogs/the-lifecycle-of-plastics‬
‭Yakobowski, S. (2019, November 22). Global Marine Plastic Pollution: Sources, Solutions and‬
‭Canada’s Role. Retrieved February 27, 2023, from‬
‭https://lop.parl.ca/sites/PublicWebsite/default/en_CA/ResearchPublications/201937E‬