Action Activated by the Plastics Pact Network Proves Vital in Tackling Plastic Waste and Pollution

The Plastics Pact Network is a globally coordinated response to the risks plastics poses to people and the planet, coordinated through a partnership of WRAP and Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Ahead of the crucial INC-5 talks (Nov 25 – Dec 1 in Busan), the Plastics Pact Network has published its first impact report demonstrating the impact achieved over the last six years.

All Plastics Pacts are aligned in a common vision: to create a circular economy for plastics and eliminate plastic waste and pollution. The Network spans  19 countries, involving  over 900 local and global organisations. Just six years in, Plastics Pacts, in which companies agree to act on core targets,  are at the forefront of tackling plastic pollution head on, delivering impact on national and global scales. Pacts around the world are united behind one common vision and around four ambitious time-bound targets which link together to create circularity and impact.

Plastics Pacts, which bring together companies, governments and  NGOs to tackle plastics pollution, now span 19 countries and have eliminated over 360,000 tonnes of problematic and unnecessary plastics. The use of recycled content in packaging made by Pact members has increased by 44%, avoiding 2.2 million tonnes of virgin plastic in 2022.

The first impact report from the Global Plastics Pact Network shows progress toward four targets:

• Target 1 – Eliminate problematic and unnecessary plastic packaging and items. Together, Plastic Pacts have eliminated over 360,000 tonnes of problematic and unnecessary plastics by removing tens of billions of items from circulation.
• Target 2 – Plastic packaging to be reusable, recyclable or compostable. Plastics Pacts have redesigned more than 850,000 tonnes of plastic packaging to be reusable, recyclable or compostable at scale.
• Target 3 – Increase amount of plastic packaging effectively recycled. Plastics Pact countries saw a 9% increase in the amount of plastic packaging recycled, equating to 463,000 tonnes. While the Network has been active for the past six years, many Pacts have only launched in the past three years making this a particularly impressive impact in a relatively short timeframe.
• Target 4 – Increase average recycled content across all plastic packaging.The Network has increased recycled content in packaging by 44%, meaning that over 2.2 million tonnes of virgin plastic were avoided in 2022.

Harriet Lamb, CEO, WRAP, said, “At the first global meeting of Plastic Pacts this year, it was truly inspiring to hear how  these Pacts are the true vanguard of a new circular economy for plastics. They show what’s possible through collaboration. The Pacts have brought together members across the supply chain, from major companies to waste-pickers, to create practical, empowering change. The challenge is huge, but so are the benefits to improve the situation for people affected by plastic waste around the world. The Plastics Pact model is ready to scale up and deliver even greater impact, but urgently needs investment, business backing and policy support.”   

In six years, Plastics Pacts have proven effective in creating significant change in their individual countries. The Network is now ready to ‘supercharge’ its influence at scale, both nationally and globally. But revitalised business support and increased investment will be essential to achieve this ambitious vision, says WRAP. These would enable the Network to address key challenges such as scaling infrastructure, promoting reuse, innovating with flexible packaging solutions and most crucially, incorporate fair practices. WRAP is also calling for a high-ambition Global Plastics Treaty to set the right policies to drive transformative change.

Sander Defruyt, Lead of Strategy and Thought Leadership for the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Plastics Initiative, said, “It has been inspiring to be part of the Plastics Pacts efforts over the last six years and to see the immense positive impact they are creating. Plastics Pacts are turning vision into united local and collaborative action worldwide, underpinned by unprecedented transparent reporting on progress. Despite these achievements, we recognise the world remains far off track from fixing the plastic pollution crisis. Based on our learnings, we now know that ambitious legally binding global rules and accelerated business actions are both crucial to tackling plastic waste and pollution at the pace and scale required. The Plastics Pacts will continue to play a key role in this critical mission.”

The Network has overcome many challenges to tackle plastic pollution. The case studies  show the power of the Plastics Pacts to create lasting change:

• U.S. – Sending the right signals to the market.

The US Plastics Pact  developed a strategy to increase incorporation of Post-consumer Recycled Content (PCR) back into packaging. The Pact has developed a PCR procurement toolkit and nearly all packaging users have made public commitments to use PCR.

• Poland – Elimination of problematic plastics.

 In collaboration with its members and waste management experts, The Polish Plastics Pact developed a list of 17 items classified as problematic and unnecessary, ensuring national relevance. Pact retail members have implemented this list in their internal standards and requirements.

• India – Tackling complex challenges (flexibles).

In India, items such as single-use sachets are used in large volumes and are especially difficult to collect and recycle. The Indian Plastics Pact has identified key barriers and opportunities to tackle the challenge and is funding design innovations to unlock solutions for flexibles. It is also developing a roadmap to address films and flexibles.

• ANZPAC (Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands) – Scaling-up reuse and refill models.

ANZPAC provides its members with market insights, collaboration and peer to peer learning opportunities to accelerate reuse. Its reuse working group ran a study on enablers and success factors for reuse to support the development of collaborative projects.

• South Africa – Empowering the voice of the informal waste sector.

The South African Plastics Pact works with the African Reclaimers’ Organisation (ARO), representing up to 150,000 informal plastic waste workers. The Pact’s 2030 targets include a principle to include  people and livelihoods into a circular economy for plastic packaging.

• Chile – Informing policy to drive circularity.

The Chilean Pact has made presentations at the Senate, providing evidence related to the law on single-use plastic now being implemented, and showing what is possible in terms of the elimination, reuse and recycling of regulated items.

Given the escalating global plastic pollution crisis, there is an urgent need for a transformative approach to plastic production, use and disposal. This urgency is both environmental and socio-economic, calling for a holistic approach that addresses both the ecological impact of plastics and the inequalities that are exacerbated by the current linear plastics economy. With additional funding, the Plastics Pacts Network can further accelerate business action and inform policymaking, taking many more million tonnes of plastics out of the environment.

Harriet Lamb added, “The Plastics Network report has a strong position to support and inform the future Global Plastics Treaty. Our experience is that we need ambitious binding policy measures with the right regulatory frameworks and incentives, alongside accelerating voluntary business action. Only with this integrated  approach can we end plastics pollution, reduce the use of virgin plastics and deliver a circular economy for plastics.”