The Ellen MacArthur Foundation on November 2, 2022, published a progress report on corporate commitments towards a circular plastics economy aimed to be achieved by 2025. According to the report and comments from stakeholders, the progress so far leaves much to be desired.
The plastic packaging commitments center around ensuring “100% of plastic packaging is reusable, recyclable, or compostable” by 2025. The update in the latest annual report shows that from 2019 to 2021 the signatories increased the percentage of total weight of their packaging that meet these criteria from 63.2% to 65.4%. However, the percentage of reusable packaging (by weight) decreased in the same time frame, from 1.5% to 1.2%. Additionally, the weight of virgin plastic in packaging increased between 2020 and 2021, bringing signatories back in line with where they started in 2018. This is likely because packaging sales overall have continued to increase (FPF reported).
David Burrows writes in Just Food that “despite being the most sustainable option (other than reduction), the EMF’s target lumped reusable into the same basket as recyclable and compostable; why would brands look to completely change their models towards reuse when they could simply stick with single-use and just ensure it’s recyclable and compostable?”
While some brands such as Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are reported as having high compliance with targets across their product portfolios, other major brands such as Modelez International and Mars were reported to have very poor compliance at 20% or less. This could be related to the ongoing challenges surrounding the recycling of the single-use flexible plastic packaging their products still use. As the signatories and their progress are scored together, EMF writes in the report that “key 2025 targets are expected to be missed.”
EMF’s New Plastics Economy Initiative coordinates large international and regional stakeholders in the plastic supply chain to make commitments towards creating a circular plastics economy. Members of the global network “together account for more than 20% of the plastic packaging market.” Each regional Plastics Pact sets targets for stakeholders “to eliminate unnecessary and problematic single-use plastic packaging and redesign all plastic packaging,” to “increase the collection and recycling of plastic packaging, as well as the recycled content used in plastic packaging” (FPF reported). Plastics pacts have been developed in multiple regions including Europe, Canada, the United States, Kenya, and Oceania.
With these disappointing results, the progress report puts more emphasis on calling for government action and increasing the role of the UN plastics treaty (FPF reported). “Governments need to accelerate progress and have the opportunity to promote a high ambition level in upcoming negotiations for a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution.”
Reference
EMF (November 2, 2022). “The global commitment 2022.” Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Read more
David Burrows (November 3, 2022). “Brands’ efforts on plastic packaging prove a load of rubbish.” Just Food
Stuart Braun (November 2, 2022). “Plastic recycling a ‘myth’ as packaging explodes.” DW
Peter Dennis (September 27, 2022). “80% of companies fall behind packaging and circularity goals within a year.” Circular.
Carbinato, D, et al. (September 15, 2022). “A roadmap for sustainable packaging in consumer goods.” Bain
