REUSE FOUNDATION

In the world of plastic packaging, the Global Commitment is a big deal, and the latest results were just released. 

Launched in 2018 by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme, the Global Commitment unites “over 1,000 organisations from across the world, including businesses representing 20% of all plastic packaging produced globally and over 50 government signatories”. 

It’s the primary way plastic packaging is governed. Ellen MacArthur Foundation says it brings together “businesses, governments, NGOs, and investors behind a common vision of a circular economy in which we eliminate the plastic we don’t need; innovate towards new materials and business models; and circulate all the plastic we still use, to keep it in the economy and out of the environment”. 

It sounds great.

We’re five years in and its report talks of “substantial progress” and how Global Commitment business signatories, and particularly the top quartile, have outperformed the market across nearly all target areas”. It gives various data points to support this. Here’s one: 

“…through the Global Commitment, the business signatories have had a substantial collective material and climate impact. They have increased their use of recycled plastics by 1.5 million tonnes per annum… this is equivalent to keeping 1 barrel of oil in the ground every 2 seconds, or more than 15 million barrels of oil a year. Doing so also avoids 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 per year – equivalent to eliminating the carbon emissions of a city of 500,000 people. The strong growth in recycled plastics use, combined with keeping the overall growth in plastic packaging use below market average, has resulted in avoiding 2.8 million tonnes of virgin plastics production a year compared to business as usual – equivalent to more than the UK’s annual plastic packaging use."

This is impressive as far as it goes but is it really a solution to single-use plastic? The Global Commitment focuses on plastic composition – replacing non-recyclable plastics with other plastics and replacing virgin plastic with used/recycled plastic. But it’s all plastic and almost all of it goes to waste. 

OECD tell us just 10% or so of plastic gets recycled worldwide, and in nearly four decades, by 2060, it will still be only 17% in the baseline, current trends scenario. Most goes to landfill and incineration, but a chunk escapes to the environment. So how does changing the composition of plastic help?

Worse, the Global Commitment does not require signatories to set targets for overall plastic usage, which means signatories can use ever more. We see this in the data that shows total plastic use by brand and retail signatories continues to rise. Since 2018, signatories have used 63.6 million tonnes and use more each year than in 2018. In 2023, total use was 6.6% higher than in 2018. By far the majority of this is single-use plastic that is used once before going to waste. 

The Global Commitment did a wonderful job galvanising support but, unfortunately, its flawed targets cannot solve the issue it highlighted, and it does a disservice by claiming ‘substantial progress’ when plastic use proceeds unabated. As ever, we need to shift to policies that make a difference, and the most attainable and meaningful is reuse (and on that, Ellen MacArthur Foundation reports that since 2019, the share of plastic that signatories say is reusable has fallen from 1.6% to 1.3% in 2023).[Image Credit: © REUSE Foundation]

Unilever announced the merger of its sustainability and external communications divisions, a move reflecting CEO Hein Schumacher’s vision of integrating corporate priorities. The decision comes after Unilever scaled back some environmental and social commitments, including targets on plastic reduction and compensation, citing shifting global challenges. Rebecca Marmot, Chief Sustainability Officer, will now oversee external communications following the departure of Paul Matthews, the former Global Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs. [Image Credit: © Unilever]

Greenpeace Philippines advocates for reuse and refill systems as a sustainable solution to the country’s plastic crisis, emphasizing the need for upstream interventions to reduce environmental, social, and health impacts caused by plastic throughout its lifecycle. It points out that unlike downstream measures, reuse and refill models tackle pollution at its source, promoting a "slow circular economy" that minimizes resource extraction, production, and waste generation. The organization’s position paper recommends government policies to mandate and mainstream reuse systems as part of the country’s commitment to safeguarding public health and the environment. It highlights the importance of creating a fair and robust policy framework that ensures environmental and socioeconomic sustainability.[Image Credit: © Jilsun Tiu from Greenpeace]

Chinese researchers developed a sponge made from cotton cellulose and squid-derived chitin that removes up to 99.8% of microplastics from water. This innovative fibrous foam may offer a low-cost, scalable solution to tackle microplastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems. It captures microplastics through physical and electrostatic mechanisms, maintaining performance across multiple uses. Researchers suggest potential applications in wastewater treatment and household appliances.[Image Credit: © Naja Bertolt Jensen on Unsplash]

Dow and Innventure are collaborating to convert hard-to-recycle plastic waste into petrochemical feedstocks, advancing global plastic waste reduction efforts. Through Refinity, Innventure's new subsidiary for the partnership, they will commercialize thermochemical processes like gasification to produce sustainable chemicals that replace virgin fossil fuels. [Image Credit: © Innventure, LLC]

Whole Foods introduced refill stations at select California stores, allowing shoppers to reduce plastic waste and save money. Powered by Wonderfil’s "smart" technology, the stations let customers refill containers with Dr. Bronner's fair trade organic soap, avoiding single-use plastic bottles. Refilling saves consumers 13 percent compared to buying new bottles, and those without containers can purchase reusable ones made from post-consumer plastic. [Image Credit: © SANTA CRUZ WORKS]

Oasis Water introduced what it claims is South Africa’s first fully recyclable 10L PET dispenser bottles. Part of Oasis’s “Water Exchange” program, the bottles are designed for high recyclability. Oasis Water’s efforts align with rising plastic recycling rates in South Africa. Oasis Water will undertake further research next year to transition its 20L bottles to PET.[Image Credit: © Oasis Water (Pty) Ltd]

US-based Tidalove launched eco-friendly fluoride toothpaste tablets, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional toothpaste tubes. Packaged in compostable paper refills or reusable tins, the tablets help reduce single-use plastic waste. Compact and ideal for travel, they eliminate clutter and are TSA-approved. [Image Credit: © openPR/Tidalove]

US Plastics Pact’s 2023-2024 Impact Report highlights progress toward reducing plastic waste through circular economy initiatives. Achievements include eliminating problematic materials, raising sustainable packaging adoption to 50 percent and increasing post-consumer recycled content to 11 percent. Key innovations include Eastman’s molecular recycling facility and Kraft Heinz’s transition to recyclable paperboard, but the report underscores the need for federal policies like standardized recycling definitions and extended producer responsibility programs to scale infrastructure and advance circularity. [Image Credit: © U.S. Plastics Pact]

Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games significantly reduced plastic waste by cutting single-use plastic in drinks distribution by 52 percent, including a 70 percent drop in single-use bottles compared to London 2012. Measures included reusable packaging, free water fountains and extensive public awareness campaigns, with 80 percent of spectators bringing refillable bottles. 79 percent of waste was recovered or avoided, and greenhouse gas emissions were 54.6 percent lower. There has been criticism about certain of the reuse practices, such as the use of single-use bottles for refills. [Image Credit: © International Olympic Committee]

UK-based Bpacks developed innovative bark-based packaging, offering a 100% home-compostable, sustainable alternative to plastics. It’s compatible with existing manufacturing processes and extends the shelf life of perishable goods by up to 7 days. Partnering with Serbian retailer Gomex, Bpacks is commercializing its eco-friendly solution across 300 stores in Southern Europe and plans to establish a production facility in Spain by 2025 for European and US markets. [Image Credit: © Bpacks]

Unilever’s Ed Shepherd highlights recent progress in negotiations toward a UN treaty aimed at curbing plastic pollution. While a binding global agreement remains elusive, a middle-ground approach on key issues like eliminating harmful plastics and regulating production gained traction. However, uncertainty persists around crucial elements like Extended Producer Responsibility and the treaty's scope. Unilever calls for robust, mandatory global rules to effectively reduce plastic waste and drive sustainable change. Another round, next year, is possible for countries most committed to finalizing stronger commitments.[Image Credit: © Brian Yurasits on Unsplash]

Smurfit WestRock is introducing beverage packaging with innovative paper-based solutions aimed at reducing plastic waste. Their paper-based multipacks and carriers, including successful applications for major brands like Liberty Coca-Cola, replaced significant amounts of plastic. The designs maintain functionality while being recyclable and visually appealing.[Image Credit: © Smurfit Westrock]

Ocado Retail, which already introduced reusable packaging for staples like rice and pasta, is expanding the scheme to laundry products. Customers receive products in reusable containers, which they return at subsequent deliveries. Launched in partnership with the UK Refill Coalition, the scheme aims to create scalable industry-wide standards for reuse in online retail. [Image Credit: © Ocado Retail Limited]

A project led by Finland’s VTT Technical Research Centre introduced origami-inspired cardboard packaging as an alternative to plastic and expanded polystyrene. This innovation transforms paperboard into flexible, lightweight and durable designs using automated folding techniques inspired by traditional origami and should appeal to industries like cosmetics, luxury goods and e-commerce. Currently in a pilot phase with industry partners, commercial rollout could be in 3-5 years. [Image Credit: © VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd]

The FDA's oversight of food packaging chemicals could shift under the new administration, with Marty Makary's likely appointment to head the agency, there could potentially be stricter scrutiny of harmful substances. While the focus is on food additives, packaging materials could also face re-evaluation, particularly recycled plastics, which may undergo more rigorous post-market reviews. Environmental advocates, such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have expressed interest in reforming plastic regulations, including eliminating harmful chemicals in packaging. [Image Credit: © Food and Drug Administration]

This year’s UK Household Plastic Packaging Collection Survey reveals key statistics on recycling rates for plastic packaging. In 2023, 43 percent of plastic packaging was collected for recycling, with plastic bottles leading at 65 percent. Plastic film and other flexible packaging remain challenging, with collection rates significantly lower. The report highlights the role of Extended Producer Responsibility and Deposit Return Schemes in improving recycling rates and reducing plastic waste. [Image Credit: © RECycling of Used Plastics Ltd (RECOUP)]

Coca-Cola is being criticized for quietly abandoning its pledge to achieve 25% reusable packaging by 2030. It seems to have dropped its 2022 commitment without formal announcement and removed it from its public sustainability pages. Environmental advocates Break Free from Plastic argues that Coca-Cola's move is a major setback in the global push to reduce plastic waste and said: “If they can’t even keep their low-bar commitments, how can they claim to be serious about addressing the global plastic crisis?” [Image Credit: © The Coca‑Cola Company]