The Supreme Court of Canada granted leave to appeal on 15 October 2026 to a challenge brought by the Responsible Plastic Use Coalition, Dow Chemical Canada, Imperial Oil and Nova Chemicals against the federal order that lists plastic manufactured items as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. That listing underpins Ottawa's Single-Use Plastics Prohibition Regulations, which ban checkout bags, cutlery, foodservice ware, ring carriers, stir sticks and most straws. No hearing date has been set; filings run into 2027.
Why this mattersA ruling against the listing would remove the legal basis of Canada's single-use plastics ban, putting in question format switches made by foodservice and retail since 2023.
- Supreme Court of Canada granted leave to appeal on 15 October 2026 in file 42277, with costs in the cause
- Appellants are the Responsible Plastic Use Coalition, Dow Chemical Canada, Imperial Oil and Nova Chemicals Corporation
- The challenge targets the 2021 order listing plastic manufactured items as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
- Federal Court quashed the listing in November 2023 (2023 FC 1511); Federal Court of Appeal reinstated it in January 2026 (2026 FCA 17)
- The listing underlies bans on checkout bags, cutlery, foodservice ware and stir sticks (effective 20 December 2023) and ring carriers (effective 20 June 2024)
- Appellants' notice of appeal is due 16 November 2026, factum by 18 January 2027; respondents must file by 8 March 2027
Dow and Amcor have agreed a strategic collaboration pairing Dow's low-carbon polyethylene and resin research with Amcor's flexible packaging manufacturing and brand-customer network. The partnership targets food and personal care flexible packaging, covering material-packaging co-development, supply-chain integration and standardised carbon-footprint data for customers' ESG reporting. The two companies previously co-developed a mono-material all-PE recyclable toothpaste tube as a pilot project.
Why this mattersA materials-converter alliance aimed at scaling low-carbon mono-material flexible packaging could help brand owners meet Scope 3 and PPWR-driven recyclability targets at lower cost.
- Dow and Amcor have agreed a strategic collaboration on low-carbon packaging, reported on 12 October 2026.
- The partnership focuses on flexible packaging for food and personal care.
- Work covers low-carbon resin and packaging co-development, early involvement of value-chain partners, and verified carbon-footprint data for customers' reporting.
- The two companies previously co-developed an all-PE recyclable toothpaste tube.
- No investment amount, capacity figure or implementation date was disclosed.
Dow Chemical has closed the sale of its flexible packaging composite adhesives business to Arkema for USD 150m, a deal first announced on 2 May 2024. The divested unit, which generates about USD 250m in annual sales, comprises five production sites in Italy, the US and Mexico making solvent-based and solvent-free laminating adhesives and heat-seal coatings. Dow retains its water-based and acrylic composite adhesives, which it says remain core to its growth strategy.
Why this mattersThe deal consolidates solvent-based laminating adhesive supply at Arkema, a key input for food and medical laminates, while Dow narrows its packaging materials range.
- Sale price is USD 150m.
- Deal was announced on 2 May 2024 and has now completed.
- Five production sites in Italy, the US and Mexico are included.
- Divested business had annual sales of approximately USD 250m.
- Business supplies solvent-based and solvent-free laminating adhesives and heat-seal coatings.
- Dow keeps its water-based and acrylic composite adhesives businesses.
Amcor and Dow announced a strategic collaboration on 17 September 2026 to accelerate adoption of low-carbon packaging, combining Dow's low-carbon polyethylene and carbon-footprint expertise with Amcor's packaging design and manufacturing. The partners will use a Carbon Footprint Ledger methodology, aligned with ISO 14067 and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, to give customers verified product carbon data supporting Scope 3 reduction targets.
Why this mattersA resin supplier and converter jointly offering assured low-carbon PE data could shift how brand owners source packaging to meet Scope 3 targets without redesign.
- Dow and Amcor announced the collaboration on 17 September 2026
- It pairs Dow's low-carbon polyethylene, materials science and carbon footprint expertise with Amcor's packaging design, manufacturing and global reach
- Central to it is the Carbon Footprint Ledger, which applies mass-balance greenhouse gas accounting and issues product carbon footprint information
- The methodology is aligned with ISO 14067 and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Product Standard, with limited third-party assurance
- The aim is drop-in low-carbon polyethylene packaging that helps brands cut Scope 3 emissions without redesign or new infrastructure
- The partners named no specific packaging applications, participating customers, emissions-reduction figures or implementation timeline
- Keith Cleason, Business President, Packaging & Specialty Plastics at Dow, and David Clark, Chief Sustainability Officer at Amcor, commented publicly on the collaboration.
- No financial terms, volumes or commercial availability date have been disclosed.
- Dow's Keith Cleason, business president for Packaging & Specialty Plastics, and Amcor's chief sustainability officer David Clark are named as leading the collaboration.
- The companies said they will work to identify viable packaging applications and involve value-chain partners early in adoption.
