The Plastics Pact Network, convened by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and WRAP, connects national and regional initiatives around the world to implement solutions towards a circular economy for plastic.
The Plastics Pact Network, convened by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and WRAP, is a globally aligned response to plastic waste and pollution, which enables vital knowledge sharingsharingThe use of a product by multiple users. It is a practice that retains the highest value of a product by extending its use period. and coordinated action. It is a network of national and regional (multi-country) initiatives which brings together key stakeholders to implement solutions towards a circular economycircular economyA systems solution framework that tackles global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution. It is based on three principles, driven by design: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature. for plastic, tailored to each geography. Each initiative is led by a local organisation and unites businesses, government institutions, NGOs and citizens behind a common vision, with an ambitious set of local targets to:
Eliminate unnecessary and problematic plastic packaging through redesign and innovation
Move from single-use to reusereuseThe repeated use of a product or component for its intended purpose without significant modification.
Ensure all plastic packaging is reusable, recyclable, or compostable
Increase the reuse, collection, and recycling or compostingcompostingMicrobial breakdown of organic matter in the presence of oxygen. of plastic packaging
Increase recycled content in plastic packaging
The Plastic Pact Network convened by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and WRAP, includes national plastic pacts in the UK, France, Chile, Kenya, South Africa, Portugal, the US, Poland and Canada, Colombia and India. Regional pacts include the Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands (ANZPAC) Plastics Pact.
Lessons learnt and best practices are exchanged across regions to accelerate the transition to a circular economy for plastics.
Plastics Pacts: Scaling Impact
Plastics Pacts are a proven model for dealing with plastic pollution at pace.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, in collaboration with WRAP, is excited to present our new report titled "Scaling Impact: The Plastics Pact Network’s Six-Year Journey Towards Eliminating Plastic Pollution and Waste." This report shares the impact and lessons learnt from the past 6 years of the Plastics Pact Network and highlights their ongoing role in driving local, collaborative action around the world, informing and complementing national policy and a Global Plastics Treaty.
The Canada Plastics Pact
The Canada Plastics Pact, led by The Natural Step Canada, was launched in January 2021.
In line with all the other national and regional Pacts in the Plastics Pact Network, including the US Plastics Pact, members will work together towards the following 2025 joint targets:
- Define a list of plastic packaging that is to be designated as problematic or unnecessary and take measures to eliminate them
- Support efforts towards 100% of plastic packaging being designed to be reusable, recyclable or compostable
- Undertake ambitious actions to ensure that at least 50% of plastic packaging is effectively recycled or composted
- Ensure an average of at least 30% recycled content across all plastic packaging (by weight).
The global Plastics Pact Network
Since the launch of the first plastics pact in the UK in 2018 in collaboration with WRAP, this pioneering approach of mobilising cross-value chain collaboration towards a circular economy for plastics has inspired the development of many more pacts and similar initiatives around the world - both within and outside the Foundation's Plastics Pact Network.
While encouraging the development of plastics pacts by others to drive action towards the circular economy for plastics in further geographies, the Foundation actively supports and advises only those pacts that form part of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Plastics Pact Network (as listed on this page). Plastics pacts not listed here are not part of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Plastics Pact Network, and the Foundation is not involved in them.
