Are plastic alternatives really sustainable? | Marketplace | Full episode

Video Description

We all know single-use plastics can be a disaster for the planet — but what if their so-called ‘sustainable’ alternatives aren’t much better? Marketplace cuts through the greenwashing claims to expose the truth behind paper straws, compostable cups and compostable plastics. We follow the lifecycle of these products to uncover a troubling truth: Big companies have simply swapped one throwaway solution for another, all while keeping us hooked on the myth of guilt-free convenience. The cost? A heavier toll on the environment and on your wallet. How do you manage having too many reusable bags? Are you having trouble composting in your community? Vent in the comments. CORRECTION (Sept. 26, 2025): A previous version of this video showed an image of a blue double-handled reusable bag from Walmart at 12:10. In fact, the tested bag was actually single handled. The video has been trimmed to remove the image. Comments on this episode were open for the weekend following its posting on Sept. 25, 2025 to allow for responsive comment moderation. You can read more about why comments aren't open all the time across CBC and other ways to interact with us: https://cbchelp.cbc.ca/hc/en-ca/artic... #Marketplace #CBC #Investigation Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/1.7642583 PLASTIC ALTERNATIVES: ECO-FRIENDLY OR ECO-FICTION? producer/director JENNY COWLEY associate producer MICHELLE McCANN reporter CHARLSIE AGRO editor AARON TAYLOR additional research DEXTER McMILLAN TOMI RAJI additional field support BOBBY HRISTOVA camera NORM ARNOLD JOHN LESAVAGE DAVID MacINTOSH PATRICK MORRELL audio IGAL PETEL MIKE MYRDEN special thanks THE ACADEMY FOR STUDENT ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT art director DAVID ABRAHAMS social media producers CAROLINE GDYCZYNSKI BRITT PURDY colour correction KYLE J. SMITH sound mix DANY TREMBLAY resource coordinators MARC CORMIER DRAGAN MARICIC news rollout DEXTER McMILLAN packaging editor BENNY KOSHY packaging producer MARY-ANN VENDITTI senior producer RAJ AHLUWALIA executive producer NELISHA VELLANI first broadcast SEPTEMBER 26, 2025 »»» Subscribe to CBC News to watch more videos: http://bit.ly/1RreYWS Connect with CBC News Online: For breaking news, video, audio and in-depth coverage: http://bit.ly/1Z0m6iX Follow CBC News on TikTok: https://bit.ly/3TnHioe Follow CBC News on Twitter: http://bit.ly/1sA5P9H Subscribe to CBC News on Snapchat: https://bit.ly/3leaWsr Download the CBC News app for iOS: http://apple.co/25mpsUz Download the CBC News app for Android: http://bit.ly/1XxuozZ »»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» For more than 80 years, CBC News has been the source Canadians turn to, to keep them informed about their communities, their country and their world. Through regional and national programming on multiple platforms, including CBC Television, CBC News Network, CBC Radio, CBCNews.ca, mobile and on-demand, CBC News and its internationally recognized team of award-winning journalists deliver the breaking stories, the issues, the analyses and the personalities that matter to Canadians.