Information and Insights
August 13, 2025
Plastic makes up 80% of marine litter whereas 79% of worldwide plastic waste results in landfills the place it may take between 450 and 1,000 years to interrupt down. Solely 9% of all plastic ever produced has been recycled. Though that’s stunning, it’s sadly unsurprising.
Encouragingly, current initiatives by authorities our bodies and the retail sector present rising momentum in addressing the plastic downside and advancing round options.
In line with the 2022 OECD International Plastics Outlook, the quantity of worldwide plastic waste in aquatic environments is on monitor to greater than triple by 2060 and, underneath present insurance policies, recycled plastics will make up solely 12% of all plastics.
A subsequent 2024 OECD report describes the trade’s business-as-usual strategy as “unsustainable” and argues that solely strict insurance policies – centered on lowering plastic manufacturing and boosting recycling charges – can be sure that any improve in plastic consumption is matched by an equal rise in recycled plastic manufacturing.
A step in the suitable route
Proper now, there may be what’s hoped to be a landmark session in Geneva that goals to agree a method ahead to control and correctly handle the complete life cycle of plastics – from design and manufacturing by to disposal. The UN’s Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) gives a chance for nations internationally to translate local weather commitments into actionable methods.
With proposals together with caps on virgin plastic manufacturing, stricter controls on components like PFAS, and the implementation of prolonged producer duty (EPR) schemes, the outcomes of this session are anticipated to considerably form the trade’s future. These developments will lay essential groundwork for advancing the round financial system.
The trade’s response
A lot of the trade has already taken a proactive strategy to such regulatory pressures by integrating sustainability and the round financial system into their core operations. The retail sector, for instance, is taking a proactive position. With backing from the UK Authorities and WRAP, 9 of the UK’s main retailers have issued a joint Assertion of Intent outlining their dedication to integrating reusable packaging throughout each in-store and on-line operations.
Supported by DEFRA and DAERA, the assertion proposes an interoperable system designed to make searching for prefilled gadgets extra accessible and handy for shoppers. This collaborative effort goals to drive widespread shopper participation and obtain a big discount in single-use packaging throughout the UK by 2030.
Often known as The Reuse Packaging Partnership, the group goals to supply manufacturers, producers and suppliers a chance to interact immediately with its members. The Partnership actively encourages extra UK retailers and stakeholders throughout the worth chain to grow to be a part of the initiative and, in so doing, grow to be a part of the answer to the escalating plastic air pollution disaster.
The truth is that the local weather disaster is an enormous downside constructed upon a groundwork laid by small failures. By persistent inaction from world leaders, enterprise executives, or on a regular basis shoppers, we’re cultivating a worsening scenario as a world group – one that can solely enhance by collective and proactive motion. Agreements made at occasions such because the INC-5.2 and on-the-ground partnerships facilitated by the retail trade showcase the true power of collaboration. By united efforts, the round financial system can transfer from idea to actuality – not simply within the UK, however for the world at massive.
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