Supermarkets are being asked to cut plastic waste. What would that look like?

Faced with a rising tide of plastic waste, the federal government is pursuing a plan to get supermarkets to cut down on their use of plastic packaging — a measure that could mean big changes to the shopping experience.

Ottawa announced earlier this month that it's introducing a policy to require Canada's largest supermarket chains to develop and roll out plans to cut their plastic waste footprint.

Environment and Climate Change Canada said it's now consulting with the supermarket sector on the proposed policy and hopes to implement it by the end of the year. Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said the federal government has options to enforce the policy but would not say which measures it's considering at this point.

"We're asking these companies to be responsible and to do the right thing. And we think they can do that," Guilbeault told CBC News.

According to this government consultation document, Ottawa's goal is to motivate chains like Loblaws, Walmart and Costco to be greener.

The government says grocery chains, grocery supercentres and warehouses that generate over $4 billion in annual sales will be required to come up with strategies to cut plastic waste. The policy is not intended to affect small businesses, independent grocers, specialty food stores, convenience stores or farmers' markets.

Environment Canada estimates Canadians throw away more than 4.4 million tonnes of plastic waste yearly, only 9 per cent of which is recycled. Plastic food packaging accounts for about one-third of all plastic packaging used in Canada.

Ottawa already has announced a ban on many single-use plastic items. The sale of plastic checkout bags, cutlery, food service ware, stir sticks and straws will be prohibited in Canada after December 20.

The new packaging policy could target a wide range of disposable plastic packaging in stores: condiment bottles, squeezable baby food packets, plastic pet food sacks, clamshell containers, milk bags and shrink-wrap on vegetables and meat.

Some major grocery chains have started moving away from these forms of plastic packaging already by choosing alternatives like glass jars, which can be returned, cleaned and refilled.

The government's consultation document says major retailers will have "flexibility" to meet the requirements as they see fit, but they'll still be expected to follow certain timelines.

The government proposes, for example, that at least 75 per cent of fruits and vegetables be sold in plastic-free packaging as early as 2026. The government also proposes that by 2030, major retailers must develop plans to sell more than 50 per cent of non-perishable items like rice or beans in plastic-free packaging.

In response, businesses could pivot to a bring-your-own-container model, or offer shoppers products in plastic or glass packaging that, once emptied and cleaned, could be returned for reuse.

The government is introducing these measures through what it calls a P2 notice requiring major grocery chains to develop plans to reduce plastic waste and report publicly on their progress. Companies that do not comply with the packaging policy will not be found non-compliant but could be subject to enforcement.