An article published on March 13, 2019 announced the launch of the Global Commitment Spring 2019 Report prepared by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy (NPE) initiative in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment). The report analyzes the progress made on the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, which was launched in October 2018 with a vision “to stop plastic waste and pollution at source by applying circular economy principles” (FPF reported).
In particular, the document provides “details of how brands, governments, and other organizations are tackling plastic pollution.” Several major companies, including Nestlé and The Coca-Cola Company, are “publicly disclosing their annual plastic packaging volumes, marking an important step towards greater transparency in today’s plastic system.” Other highlights include the commitments by “consumer goods companies and retailers . . . to increase recycled content in their packaging to an average of 25% by 2025, compared with the current global average of just 2%.” Further, “leading businesses and governments” are committing to “end the use of problematic and unnecessary plastic – including PVC and single-use plastic straws and carrier bags.” Overall, “40 brands and retailers are piloting or expanding reuse and refill schemes.”
NPE’s Sander Defruyt sees “the targets and action plans” summarized in the report as “a significant step forward compared with the pace of change of past decades.” However, they are “still far from truly matching the scale of the problem, particularly when it comes to the elimination of unnecessary items and innovation towards reuse models.” Therefore, additional “major investments, innovations, and transformation programs” are still needed in order “to make real strides in addressing global plastic pollution by 2025,” Defruyt said.
UPDATE: In an article published on June 18, 2019, NPE launched an updated June 2019 report showing that “over 400 organizations have [by now] signed the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment.”
Read more
New Plastics Economy (March 13, 2019). “Global Commitment Spring 2019 Report launched.”
Oliver Morrison (March 22, 2019). “More commitments needed on plastics, warns campaigner.” Food Navigator
New Plastics Economy (June 18, 2019). “Over 400 organisations have signed the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment.”
References
New Plastics Economy and UN Environment (March 13, 2019). “New Plastics Economy Global Commitment. Spring 2019 report.” (pdf)
New Plastics Economy and UN Environment (June 2019). “New Plastics Economy Global Commitment. June 2019 report.” (pdf)
New Plastics Economy and UN Environment (June 2019). “New Plastics Economy Global Commitment. June 2019 report.” Executive summary (pdf)
