A world first initiative
What is The UK Plastics Pact?
The UK Plastics Pact brings together businesses from across the entire plastics value chain with UK governments and NGOs to tackle the scourge of plastic waste. We are creating a circular economy for plastics, capturing their value by keeping them in the economy and out of the natural environment.
Pact members will eliminate problematic plastics reducing the total amount of packaging on supermarket shelves, stimulate innovation and new business models and help build a stronger recycling system in the UK. Together we will ensure that plastic packaging is designed so it can be easily recycled and made into new products and packaging and, with the support of governments, ensure consistent UK recycling is met.
The UK Plastics Pact, led by WRAP, is the first of a global network of Pacts, enabled by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastics Economy initiative.
Our vision
A world where plastic is valued and doesn't pollute the environment
Who's signed up?
Find out who's signed up and how you can become a member or associate member.
We're united behind four targets to 2025
2. 100% of plastics packaging to be reusable, recyclable or compostable.
3. 70% of plastics packaging effectively recycled or composted.
4. 30% average recycled content across all plastic packaging.
Progress against the targets
Priority action areas
To achieve The UK Plastics Pact targets it is imperative we address some critical issues and find solutions working in collaboration with the plastics value chain.
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Find out moreFlexible plastic packaging
Flexible plastic represents a quarter of all UK consumer plastic packaging, but only 4% is currently recycled. Urgent action is needed.
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Find out moreProblem plastics
Eliminating problematic plastics and rethinking and redesigning our plastics so they are more easily recycled.
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Find out moreDesigning for recyclability
Use our polymer choice and recyclability guidance to design packaging fit for the future
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Find out moreCitizen behaviour change
Hard hitting campaigns, world leading citizen research and insight are transforming recycling behaviours in the UK.
What can my business do?
What are the key actions your business can take to transform how you make, use, collect, sort, reuse and recycle packaging taking advantage of the many opportunities that exist in a circular economy for plastics.
Become a member or associate
Become part of the solution. Help your business and your supply chain make the radical system change required to create a world where plastic is valued and doesn’t pollute the environment.
Take action in your organisation
Find out more about the essential reports, research and guidance on plastics and packaging by navigating to the sector you work within.
International work
A global issue
We’re working with partners on Plastics Pacts around the world using The UK Plastics Pact as a blueprint for collaborative change. We’re focusing our international efforts on developing partnerships to deliver change in those countries where the need is greatest, including in South East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Latest updates
Find out about the latest developments from The UK Plastics Pact and other initiatives that are helping transform the plastics value chain in the UK and globally.
Key reports, guidance and tools
View a selection of our essential guidance and reports on plastics. Or for all our work on plastic packaging click here
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REPORT
The UK Plastics Pact Annual Report 2019-20
UK Plastics Pact member progress and data report 2019/20
8 December 2020
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Eliminating problem plastics
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