Corporates set to miss plastic recycling and reuse goals
Major companies are set to fail on their pledges to only use reusable, recyclable or compostable plastic packaging by 2025 due to rises in flexible packaging such as sachets and film, according to latest research.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation study, The Global Commitment 2022 Progress Report, looked at the progress of more than 80 signatories to its New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, which was launched in 2018 to create a ‘new normal’ by eliminating single-use packaging materials, increasing the amount of reused or recycled plastics in new products, and innovating to ensure 100% of plastic packaging can be reused, recycled or composted by 2025.
An increase in flexible packaging and a lack of investment in collection and recycling infrastructure means these commitments are unlikely to be met, according to the research. While 59% of brands have reduced their virgin plastic use, a 2.5% rise in plastics was recorded, with 42% yet to introduce any reuse models.