Up in Smoke: The Environmental Toll of Cannabis Packaging

As the cannabis industry continues to grow and become more mainstream, so too does the issue of plastic waste. With the increasing legalization of marijuana across North America, more and more people are using cannabis products, which means more plastic packaging is being generated. Unfortunately, much of this packaging ends up in landfills, where it takes hundreds of years to decompose.

According to [Re] Waste's conservative projections, there is over 1 billion lbs of cannabis packaging produced to support Canada and the United States' legalized cannabis market each year. And with the industry projected to grow substantially in the coming years, this number is only going to increase. The problem is compounded by the fact that many cannabis products are packaged in materials that are difficult or impossible to recycle.

But there is hope. [Re] Waste, a Canadian recycling company, has developed a recycling program specifically for cannabis packaging. The company uses a variety of techniques to process and recycle packaging, including sorting, granulating, and extrusion. This allows the plastic to be repurposed and made into new products, such as Rolling Trays and Doob Tubes.

The solution to the cannabis packaging waste problem requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders in the industry, from growers and manufacturers to consumers and ancillary companies. It’s time for the industry to take responsibility for the environmental impact of their products and embrace recycling solutions like [Re] Waste’s.

In the end, it’s up to all of us to make sure that the cannabis industry grows sustainably and responsibly. We owe it to ourselves, to future generations, and to the planet.