Global innovation spotlight: Canada – Springwise

Reflecting our global Springwise readership, we explore the innovation landscape and freshest thinking from a new country each week. To celebrate Canada day last week, we are celebrating three exciting Canadian innovations…

Canada Innovation Facts

Climate targets: cut emissions by at least 40-45 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, net zero by 2050

Sustainability issues

Oil sands extraction – The Alberta oil sands are the world’s third largest proven oil reserve, and Canada is the largest exporter of oil to the US. Oil sand extraction causes heavy metal pollution and emissions of nitrogen and sulphur oxides, and is a particularly energy and water intensive method of producing oil.

Road salt pollution – Canada uses around 5 million tonnes of road salt each year to tackle the country’s treacherously icy driving conditions. This heavy-use of salt has a negative environmental impact, most obviously on vegetaion lining the sides of major roads, but also on aquatic life. 

Air pollution – As in many other countries, air pollution is one of the biggest environmental factors impacting human health in Canada. Poor air quality is linked to 15,300 premature deaths per year in the country, as well as environmental impacts including acid rain and reduced plant growth.

Sector specialisms

For June’s Indigenous History Month, Cheekbone Beauty launched a social-driven ‘#GlossedOver’ campaign with the help of agency Sid Lee. As part of the campaign, Cheekbone Beauty is releasing a line of lip gloss made using water from Indigenous communities in Canada. The twist? The lipgloss cannot actually be sold because the water is so contaminated. Read more.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) look set to play a crucial role in the future of energy as the world transitions away from fossil fuels. Found in everything from electric vehicles to smartphones and computers, these batteries have several downsides when it comes to environmental impact. One of the biggest things we can do to mitigate their impact is to invest in effective recycling technologies. Canadian company Li-Cycle has developed a two-step battery recycling process that recovers 95 per cent of critical materials, such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel. Read more.

Words: Matthew Hempstead

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