A benchmarking study was conducted by Light House as a foundational step of the Construction Plastics Initiative (CPI), which analyzes plastic waste diversion across 253 LEED-certified construction projects in Canada completed between 2009 and 2019.

Using a standard intensity metric of kilograms per square metre (kg/m²), researchers found typical plastic waste diversion levels ranging from 1.1 to 2.7 kg/m² (2.43 to 5.95 lb), with institutional and residential projects producing the highest volumes per unit of floor area.

The study notes that building type appears to influence outcomes, with complex interior fit-outs, higher volumes of protective packaging, and layered subcontractor activity likely contributing to higher plastic generation and diversion potential on institutional and residential sites.

Researchers also observed a wide variation within each building category, suggesting that project-specific practices and reporting methods can significantly impact the results.

Read the full report here.