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U.K. Companies Make Plastic Pact

Firms pledge to make 100% of plastic packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025

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04.26.18

Dozens of companies in the U.K. formally pledged to eliminate unnecessary single-use plastic packaging by 2025. Under the "UK Plastics Pact," these businesses, which include major food and beverage brands, supermarkets, retailers and plastic reprocessors, have agreed to aim to make 100% of their plastic packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable and to ensure 70% of it is effectively recycled or composted between now and 2025.

The 42 companies, which include major food and drink brands, supermarkets, manufacturers, retailers and plastic re-processors, will also ensure that there is an average 30% recycled content across plastic packaging by 2025.

The announcement of the pact comes amid widespread concern over the problem of plastic waste polluting the countryside and the world's oceans where it can harm wildlife and enter the food chain.

Waste reduction body Wrap, which is leading the UK Plastics Pact, said the businesses involved are responsible for more than 80% of the plastic packaging on products sold through British supermarkets. In addition, 15 other organizations, including the British Retail Consortium and the Food and Drink Federation, have signed up to the targets.

Last week, diaper maker Procter & Gamble said it was aiming to have nearly all of its packaging be reusable or recyclable by 2030 as part of its Ambition 2030 environmental sustainability plan.