Plastics Pact
The UK Plastics Pact is led by WRAP with the support of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. It was co-created by these organisations to accelerate the transition to a circular economy for plastics in the UK and is one of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation national and regional implementation initiatives around the world. Membership is voluntary and members are expected to commit to moving towards achieving the targets of the Plastics Pact
Overview
The UK Plastics Pact is led by WRAP with the support of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. It was co-created by these organisations to accelerate the transition to a circular economy for plastics in the UK and is one of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation national and regional implementation initiatives around the world. Membership is voluntary and members are expected to commit to moving towards achieving the targets of the Plastics Pact
The contents of this page are drawn extensively from the WRAP website[1] and the annual report for the UK Plastics Pact for 2020-2021[2].
There are 96 members of the UK Plastics Pact accounting for two thirds of all consumer packaging used in the UK. Members comprise:
- 56 Manufacturers
- 15 Retailers
- 3 Hospitality/Foodservice and
- 22 Resin producers, packaging converters, machinery, and the recycling industry
Targets
The targets set out in the annual report for 2020-2021 are as follows:
| Target | Progress in 2022-2021 |
|---|---|
| Eliminate problematic or unnecessary single-use packaging through redesign, innovation, or alternative (reuse) delivery models | 46% reduction in plastic items since 2018 |
| 100% of plastic packaging to be reusable, recyclable, or compostable | 70% of plastic packaging is reusable or recyclable, 65% of plastic packaging continues to be recycled |
| 70% of plastic packaging effectively recycled or composted | 52% of plastic packaging recycled; up from 44% in 2018 |
| 30% average recycled content across all plastic packaging | 18% average recycled content; up from 9% in 2018 |