If you run a restaurant, café, or food retail business, Canada's single-use plastics rules directly affect the packaging you can buy and use. After several years of legal back-and-forth, the picture is now settled: in January 2026 the Federal Court of Appeal upheld the federal government's authority to regulate these products, and the Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations remain in force. Here is a plain-language overview of what is banned and how to stay compliant.
This article is general information, not legal advice. For official details, see Environment and Climate Change Canada, and check the rules in your province and municipality.
What is banned
The federal regulations prohibit the manufacture, import, and sale of six categories of single-use plastic items:
- Checkout bags
- Cutlery
- Foodservice ware made from or containing problematic plastics
- Ring carriers (the rings that hold cans together)
- Stir sticks
- Straws, with limited accessibility exceptions
What "problematic plastics" means for foodservice
The foodservice-ware category is the one most likely to affect your kitchen. It targets items made from or containing problematic plastics, which include expanded and extruded polystyrene (often called foam or Styrofoam), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), oxo-degradable plastic, and carbon black. In practice, that means foam clamshell containers, foam cups, and similar products are no longer compliant and need to be replaced.
Compliant alternatives you can switch to
Proven, widely available alternatives exist for almost every banned item:
- Molded fiber and sugarcane (bagasse) containers are sturdy, compostable replacements for foam clamshells. Browse sugarcane containers.
- Kraft and paperboard containers work for bowls, wraps, and hot mains. See kraft containers and paper deli containers.
- Wood and compostable cutlery replace single-use plastic forks, knives, and spoons. View disposable utensils.
- Paper bags handle customer carry-out in place of plastic checkout bags. See disposable bags.
Do not forget provincial and municipal rules
Federal rules set the national baseline, but provinces and municipalities can add their own requirements. Several Atlantic Canada provinces introduced single-use bag bans before the federal regulations took effect, and some municipalities have additional bylaws, so it is worth confirming the rules that apply in your specific location.
How to make the switch without disruption
Switching does not have to happen overnight. Start by listing the disposables you currently buy and flag anything made of foam or other problematic plastics. Replace the highest-volume items first, order compliant stock by the case to keep costs down, and use up any compliant inventory you already have. Buying through a single wholesale supplier makes the transition simpler, since you can source paper, fiber, and other compliant products in one place.
Get compliant packaging wholesale in Atlantic Canada
Fulji Trading supplies compostable and paper-based foodservice packaging in bulk to restaurants, cafés, and retailers across New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. To see wholesale pricing and stock up on compliant alternatives, request a wholesale account.