The Pact brings together the entire plastics packaging value chain to deliver a common vision based on an ambitious set of targets that aims to reduce the amount of unnecessary plastic packaging and build a stronger recycling system, so that plastic packaging can be effectively recycled and made into new products and packs.
The immediate focus is the identifying of priority projects that will deliver the greatest impacts in the short and long term. These include overcoming barriers to increasing the amount of recycled content used in new packaging, developing reusable packaging and working with partners to deal with the issue of un-recyclable black plastic.
The UK Plastics Pact is the first of a global network of such pacts, enabled by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastic Economy initiative. “We are delighted to be supporting this important development,” comments David Baker, RPC Group’s Industry Affairs Director.
“A coordinated effort is the ideal way to deliver real sustainability benefits and change, tackling the problem of plastic waste while still ensuring the material can maintain its many vital roles such as helping to reduce carbon emissions and providing effective food protection.”