Global Commitment 2021 Progress Report

lease note that all information related to this report is under embargo until
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00:01 GMT on 16 November 2021
This report has been compiled by the Ellen MacArthur

Foundation, with input from the UN Environment Programme
in relation to the government signatories.
The Global
Commitment
2021 Progress
Report
2021
2020
2019
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THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2021 PROGRESS REPORT | 2
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS Driven by the goal of tackling plastic pollution at its source, through the Global Commitment and Plastic Pact
network more than 1,000 businesses, governments, and other organisations have united behind a common
KEY PROGRESS
METRICS vision of a circular economy for plastic, in which it never becomes waste. Signatories to the Global Commitment,
which together account for more than 20% of the plastic packaging market, have set ambitious 2025 targets to
TOP FMCGS
PERFORMANCE help realise that common vision. This third annual progress report looks at how these signatories are faring
against these targets.
ABOUT THIS
REPORT
EXPLORE
THE DATA THIS REPORT HAS THREE KEY FINDINGS:
1 2 3
INSIGHTS BY
PROGRESS AREA
ELIMINATION
REUSE After decades of growth, Progress has largely been A large number of
REUSABLE, virgin plastic use appears driven by recycling, but businesses and countries
RECYCLABLE, OR
COMPOSTABLE to have peaked for Global that is not enough to solve are supportive of a global
REUSE,
Commitment brands and plastic pollution – much agreement on plastic
RECYCLING
OR COMPOSTING
retailers and is set to fall more focus is urgently pollution, recognising
IN PRACTICE faster by 2025 needed on eliminating voluntary initiatives alone
DECOUPLING single-use packaging will not be enough
TRANSPARENCY
ENDNOTES
Explore the Global Commitment 2021 Progress
APPENDIX Report data and insights:
• Overall insights (this document)
• Sector reports
• Individual signatory progress

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EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
CONTENTS
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS
Executive summary 2
KEY PROGRESS
METRICS
Perspective on progress 4
TOP FMCGS
PERFORMANCE
Key progress metrics 7

ABOUT THIS
REPORT
EXPLORE Top FMCGs performance 9

THE DATA
INSIGHTS BY About this report 11

PROGRESS AREA
ELIMINATION
Explore the data 12
REUSE
REUSABLE, Insights by progress area 13

RECYCLABLE, OR
COMPOSTABLE
Elimination 13
REUSE,
RECYCLING
OR COMPOSTING
Reuse 17
IN PRACTICE
Reusable, recyclable or compostable 21
DECOUPLING
Reuse, recycling or composting in practice 26
TRANSPARENCY
Decoupling 30
ENDNOTES Transparency 34
APPENDIX
Endnotes 36
Appendix: breakdown of plastic packaging

38
reported and for global market
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EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
PERSPECTIVE ON PROGRESS
In this section, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and UNEP offer a perspective on the progress seen
PERSPECTIVE over the reporting period, looking at each of the three key findings of the report.
ON PROGRESS
KEY PROGRESS
METRICS
TOP FMCGS
1 After decades of growth, virgin plastic use appears to have peaked
for Global Commitment brands and retailers and is set to fall faster by 2025
PERFORMANCE
Brands and retailers in the Global Commitment With all these companies now setting FIGURE 1
are already reducing their virgin plastic absolute reduction targets this trend is
Launch of Global Commitment
ABOUT THIS consumption set to accelerate
REPORT
• Brands and retailers in the Global • This downward trajectory is reinforced by
EXPLORE Commitment have now collectively reduced new commitments to reduce total plastic or
THE DATA their virgin plastic consumption for the virgin plastic use in absolute terms by 2025,
second year in a row, with a reduction of 1.2% which has this year become a mandatory
INSIGHTS BY between 2020 and 2019, following a 0.6% requirement to be a Global Commitment
PROGRESS AREA reduction between 2018 and 2019. brand or retail signatory.
ELIMINATION • This follows decades of exponential growth in • These targets are expected to lead to a total -2%
the industry’s consumption of virgin plastics, reduction in virgin plastic used by brand and Reduction
during which the global plastics market grew retail signatories of around 19% between 2018
to date -17%
REUSE
Projected impact
from around 2 million metric tonnes in 1950 and 2025. Historical of targets
to more than 300 million metric tonnes in exponential
REUSABLE, growth3
RECYCLABLE, OR 2015.1 • This sustained and significant fall would mark,
COMPOSTABLE for the first time, a decoupling of business
growth from the consumption of virgin plastic
c.1950
2018
2020
2025
REUSE, among leading FMCG and retail companies.
RECYCLING
OR COMPOSTING • By 2025, combined with the recycled
IN PRACTICE Estimated trajectory of the weight of virgin plastic in
content targets of plastic and packaging
manufacturer signatories, this would avoid an packaging for Global Commitment brand and retail
DECOUPLING estimated 8 million tonnes of virgin plastics signatories, 2018-2025
from being produced each year – keeping 40
TRANSPARENCY million barrels of oil in the ground.2
ENDNOTES
APPENDIX
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EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS
KEY PROGRESS
METRICS
TOP FMCGS
2 Progress has been largely driven by recycling, but that is not enough to solve plastic
pollution – much more focus must urgently go to eliminating single use packaging
PERFORMANCE
Progress on virgin plastic reduction has been But we see alarmingly little investment in efforts ...which is vital to continuing progress towards
driven largely by growing use of recycled to reduce the need for single-use packaging... a circular economy for plastic
ABOUT THIS content in packaging
REPORT • Most current efforts to eliminate problematic • We won't recycle or dispose our way out
• The reduction in virgin plastic delivered by or unnecessary plastic packaging involve of plastic pollution. Demand for plastic
EXPLORE Global Commitment signatories between substitution to other plastics or paper, not packaging is predicted to double over the
THE DATA 2018 and 2020 was largely driven by a strong solutions that reduce the need for single-use coming two decades. Future scenarios
increase in the use of recycled plastics, packaging in the first place. focused on collection, recycling and disposal
INSIGHTS BY mainly in rigid PET packaging. alone have been shown to fall short, with
PROGRESS AREA • Less than 2% of Global Commitment high ocean leakage and GHG emissions.
• Brand and retail signatories substantially signatories’ plastic packaging is reusable,
ELIMINATION increased the post-consumer recycled and more than half of all signatories report • To achieve a circular economy for plastic,
content in their plastic packaging over this 0%. While these changes take time, more substantially more effort must go into
REUSE period – by 60%, from 5.2% to 8.2%. concerning is that levels of ambition to preventing waste from being created in the
explore and scale reuse appear very low. Just first place — using elimination and reuse
REUSABLE, • Based on current reduction and recycled 11% of signatories launched more than three solutions to curb growth in the total amount
RECYCLABLE, OR content targets of brand and retail pilots in the last year, while 56% launched of packaging that needs to be circulated.
COMPOSTABLE signatories, around 80% of the planned none at all.
2025 virgin reduction seems to be driven by • Upstream innovation offers opportunities
REUSE, increasing recycled content. • Supporting policy measures on elimination to rethink how products can be delivered
RECYCLING are still largely limited to banning a narrow to users without the need for single-use
OR COMPOSTING
set of items, while only three government packaging.
IN PRACTICE
signatories have established targets on reuse
affecting their whole jurisdiction.
DECOUPLING
TRANSPARENCY
ENDNOTES
APPENDIX
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EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS
KEY PROGRESS
METRICS
TOP FMCGS
3 A large number of businesses and countries are supportive of a global agreement on
plastic pollution, recognising voluntary initiatives alone will not be enough
PERFORMANCE
The right policies can create the conditions for 2022 offers a unique opportunity to capitalise Now there is broad industry support for EPR,
global change on momentum towards ambitious global action that policymakers can build on
ABOUT THIS on plastics
REPORT • Voluntary industry initiatives and actions • 150+ organisations, including 100+ leading
by leading governments play a vital role • Around 80 leading companies from across businesses, have now explicitly and publicly
EXPLORE in pioneering solutions and demonstrating the plastics value chain and investors recognised that extended producer
THE DATA what’s possible at scale. However, many have backed the call initiated by the Ellen responsibility policy (EPR) is the only
stakeholders agree these efforts will never MacArthur Foundation, WWF, and BCG for proven way to ensure sufficient funding
INSIGHTS BY by themselves be enough to eliminate plastic a binding UN treaty on plastics, recognising for collection, sorting and recycling of
PROGRESS AREA waste and pollution. that voluntary initiatives alone will not be packaging, and that without it recycling is
enough. unlikely to ever scale.
ELIMINATION • 80% of the plastic packaging market is not
captured by the Global Commitment, with • Furthermore, around 100 countries have • Governments can build on this strong
REUSE most of those outside it unlikely to act at the explicitly expressed support for starting and constructive signal from industry, to
scale and pace required to prevent plastic negotiations on a global agreement on accelerate the implementation of EPR policy
REUSABLE, packaging and waste from being created plastics in 2022. for packaging.
RECYCLABLE, OR in the first place, reduce virgin plastic, and
COMPOSTABLE tackle packaging not recyclable in practice • In February 2022, national governments • Eight out of nine national governments
and at scale. will gather for the next session of the UN reporting to the Global Commitment have
REUSE, Environment Assembly. This is a unique already indicated they have set or are
RECYCLING • Policymakers now have a significant opportunity to drive ambitious global action planning to implement EPR policies by 2025.
OR COMPOSTING
opportunity to address these gaps by on plastics pollution that the international
IN PRACTICE
creating the enabling conditions both to community must seize.
support efforts by leading companies and to
DECOUPLING
drive laggards to action.
TRANSPARENCY
ENDNOTES
APPENDIX
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EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
KEY PROGRESS METRICS
01 03
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS All brand and retail signatories have Signatories are reporting
committed to set 2025 total and/or virgin more elimination examples…
KEY PROGRESS
METRICS plastic packaging reduction targets Number of elimination examples reported
by brand, retail and packaging producer
62 -19%
TOP FMCGS signatories for 2019 and 2020
PERFORMANCE
ABOUT THIS
REPORT
brand and retail in virgin plastics in
signatories setting packaging by 2025
EXPLORE targets compared to 2018 245 320
THE DATA
examples
+31% examples
02 The pace of progress on post-consumer

INSIGHTS BY
PROGRESS AREA
recycled content is high...
ELIMINATION Percentage (weighted average) of post-consumer recycled
content in plastic packaging for brand and retail signatories
REUSE
2019 2020
REUSABLE,
RECYCLABLE, OR
COMPOSTABLE 5.2% +23% 6.3% +29% 8.2%
REUSE,
RECYCLING ...however, most examples involved
OR COMPOSTING 2018 2019 2020
IN PRACTICE material substitution, not changes to
avoid the need for packaging
DECOUPLING
...and recyclers are increasing their output Solution type used to deliver elimination/reduction as
TRANSPARENCY of recycled plastics. a percentage of total number of examples reported
Plastics recycling output - recycler signatories (millions of
Material
metric tonnes)
ENDNOTES changes
APPENDIX
1.0m 1.2m 1.5m 76% 24%
Fundamental
changes
2018 2019 2020
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04 Despite growth in the number of reuse

05 The share of reusable, recyclable,
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
pilots launched, many signatories still do or compostable plastic packaging
PERSPECTIVE not appear to be testing reuse models... increased marginally
ON PROGRESS
Percentage of total plastic packaging weight that is reusable,
Number of pilots launched by % of brand, retail and recyclable or compostable, for brand and retail signatories
KEY PROGRESS brand, retail and packaging packaging producer
METRICS reporting in 2019 and 2020
producer signatories signatories not launching
any pilots in 2020 2019 64.8%
TOP FMCGS
PERFORMANCE 2020 +0.8%
2020 65.3%
ABOUT THIS
REPORT
147
An increasing number of governments
99 are working on Extended Producer
EXPLORE
THE DATA +48% Responsibility policies
INSIGHTS BY Percentage of national government signatories revising/
PROGRESS AREA establishing EPR policies in 2019 and 2020, and/or planning to
56% do so by 2025
ELIMINATION
2019
2019 44%
REUSE
2020 56%
REUSABLE, 2025 89%
RECYCLABLE, OR
COMPOSTABLE
REUSE,
...and the overall share of reusable plastic
packaging has decreased
06
RECYCLING
OR COMPOSTING The majority of signatories are now
IN PRACTICE Share of reusable plastic packaging for packaged goods
companies and retailers reporting in 2019 and 2020 publicly disclosing their total
DECOUPLING (percentage of weight) plastic packaging weight and
TRANSPARENCY
portfolio breakdown
Percentage of brand and retail signatories publicly disclosing
their total plastic packaging weight and portfolio breakdown
ENDNOTES
in 2020 and 2021
1.8% 0.2pp 1.6%
APPENDIX
Disclosing 2020 49%
total weight
+52%
2021 75%
Disclosing
2020 65%
portfolio +19%
2019 2020 breakdown 2021 78%
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00:01 GMT on 16 November 2021 THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2021 PROGRESS REPORT | 9
FIGURE 3
Progress on plastic packaging by top FMCG companies since 2018 (1)

EXECUTIVE
Key Global Commitment metrics for top 10 FMCG companies by revenue, 2018-20
SUMMARY
2018 2020 2025 target
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS
TOTAL 2025 REDUCTION RECYCLED REUSABLE, RECYCLABLE REUSABLE
WEIGHT TARGET CONTENT OR COMPOSTABLE PLASTIC
KEY PROGRESS of plastic for total plastic % of post-consumer PLASTIC PACKAGING PACKAGING
METRICS packaging in packaging weight recycled content weight in % of plastic packaging % of plastic
metric tonnes and/or virgin plastic packaging weight that is reusable, packaging weight
in 2020 plastic weight
recyclable or compostable that is reusable
TOP FMCGS
PERFORMANCE
30% 100%
33% 2% 65%
ABOUT THIS Nestlé 1,267k Virgin +2 -4 =0
REPORT Food 4% 61% 1% 1%
EXPLORE Procter & Gamble Not a Global Commitment Signatory

THE DATA
25% 100%
INSIGHTS BY PepsiCo 2,350k 5% Virgin 3%
+2 77%
=0 =0
PROGRESS AREA Beverages 5% 77% 0% 0%
ELIMINATION AB InBev Not a Global Commitment Signatory
REUSE 25% 100%

Total Virgin 1%
Unilever 690k +10 50%
+2 Not reported
REUSABLE, Household and personal care 11% 52%
RECYCLABLE, OR
100k 50%
COMPOSTABLE
JBS Not a Global Commitment Signatory
REUSE,
RECYCLING Tyson Foods Not a Global Commitment Signatory
OR COMPOSTING
IN PRACTICE 25% 100%
The Coca-Cola Company 2,961k 20% Virgin 9% +2.5 99%
=0 -2.3
DECOUPLING
Beverages 11.5% 99% 4% 1.7%
30% 100%
TRANSPARENCY
Mars, Incorporated 179k 25% Virgin
0%
=0
23%
-1
=0
Food 0% 22% 0% 0%
ENDNOTES
50% 100%
APPENDIX L’Oréal 138k 33% 4.7% 30.3% +0.6
Cosmetics
Virgin +4 +11.4
15.8% 41.7% 0.4% 1%
Notes:
a) Growth versus previous years’ data was calculated using percentage points for all metrics.
b) All quantitative data are provided for the latest year reported, in most cases for the relevant company’s financial year ending 2020. Details of the reporting timeframe for each signatory are provided in their online individual reports.
c) For more information about individual plastic reduction targets, please refer to online individual signatory reports.
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FIGURE 4
Progress on plastic packaging by other large FMCG signatories since 2018 (2)
EXECUTIVE
Key Global Commitment metrics for other large FMCG companies by revenue
SUMMARY
2018 2020 2025 target
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS
TOTAL 2025 REDUCTION RECYCLED REUSABLE, RECYCLABLE REUSABLE
WEIGHT TARGET CONTENT OR COMPOSTABLE PLASTIC
KEY PROGRESS of plastic for total plastic % of post-consumer PLASTIC PACKAGING PACKAGING
METRICS packaging in packaging weight recycled content weight in % of plastic packaging % of plastic
metric tonnes and/or virgin plastic packaging weight that is reusable, packaging weight
in 2020 plastic weight
recyclable or compostable that is reusable
TOP FMCGS
PERFORMANCE
50% 100%
Danone
ABOUT THIS Food 716k 33% Virgin 6.4% +3.9 65.5% +1.5 3.7% 4.8% +1.1
10.3% 67%
REPORT
5% 100%
Mondelez* 0.3%
EXPLORE Food 189k 5% Virgin =0 5%
=0 0% 0% =0
THE DATA 0.3% 5%
Henkel 30% 100%

INSIGHTS BY
Household and Personal Care 348k 33% Virgin 7% +5 74%
+5 0% 1.6% +1.6
PROGRESS AREA 12% 79%
25% 100%
Colgate-Palmolive
ELIMINATION
Household and Personal Care 288k 33% Virgin 7% +3 57%
+3.8 0% 0% =0
10% 60.8%
REUSE
40% 100%
Diageo
REUSABLE, Beverages 42k 5% Total 0% +5.4 81% -14.2 0% 0% =0
5.4% 66.8%
RECYCLABLE, OR
COMPOSTABLE 25% 100%
Reckitt
Household and Personal Care 225k 30% Virgin 3%
+0.5 54%
+7.8 5% 5% =0
REUSE, 3.5% 61.8%
RECYCLING
25% 100%
OR COMPOSTING SC Johnson 4.5% 55%
IN PRACTICE Household and Personal Care 94k 30% Virgin +14.3 +10.3 +7.8
18.8% 65.3% 7% 14.8%
DECOUPLING 10% 100%
Kellogg To be set
Food 65k in Nov 2021
0% +0.1 16%
-1.9 0% 0% =0
TRANSPARENCY
0.1% 14.1%
25% 100%
Essity
Household and Personal Care 40k 5% Virgin 0%
+2
18%
=0 0% 0% =0
ENDNOTES 2% 18%
15% 100%
APPENDIX FrieslandCampina* 33%
69k 0.9%
Food 7% Virgin
1% +0.1 28.2% -4.8 0.4% 0.4% =0
Notes:
a) Growth versus previous years’ data was calculated using percentage points for all metrics.
b) A
ll quantitative data are provided for the latest year reported, in most cases for the relevant company’s financial year ending 2020. Details of the reporting timeframe for each signatory are provided in their online individual reports.
c) For more information about individual plastic reduction targets, please refer to online individual signatory reports.
*No data supplied for 2018, figure provided is for 2019
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EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
ABOUT THIS REPORT
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS This document is the third in a series of annual business signatories in this reporting cycle is for Commitment framework and publicly reporting
Global Commitment progress reports. It provides 2020 and aggregated statistics are therefore on progress on them annually through the Ellen
KEY PROGRESS insight into the trajectory of progress being made referred to throughout the report as 2020 data, MacArthur Foundation, in line with the Global
METRICS by leading businesses and governments towards with data submitted in the 2020 reporting cycle Commitment common definitions and guidelines.
creating a circular economy for plastics. referred to as 2019 data, and so on. References These businesses are:
TOP FMCGS throughout the report to “%s of signatories” refer
PERFORMANCE to the percentage of reporting signatories. Packaging producers:
REPORTING SIGNATORIES Nuceria Group
ABOUT THIS Brands and retailers:
REPORT In this report, 130 businesses that produce, use,
and recycle large volumes of plastic packaging
EXITING SIGNATORIES Barilla G. e R. Fratelli SpA, Burberry Group, Marks
(representing 98% of the business signatories In the last year, seven businesses have left the and Spencer plc
EXPLORE
THE DATA eligible to report through the Ellen MacArthur Global Commitment signatory group. This was Collection, sorting and recycling companies:
Foundation) and 18 governments across five as a result of being unwilling to fulfil mandatory Re-Poly, Evertrak, QRS, CuRe Technology
continents (out of 20 government signatories) requirements for participation, which include
INSIGHTS BY Compostable plastics producers:
PROGRESS AREA have reported on progress against public targets setting quantitative targets in line with the Global
to help build a circular economy for plastics.4 5 Vita BioEnergia ltda
ELIMINATION They have all been asked to report against a

common set of commitments, using the same FIGURE 5
REUSE definitions with the aim of driving transparency In this report, 130 businesses across the plastics value chain and 18 governments
and consistency in data sharing on plastics have reported against their commitments on plastic packaging
REUSABLE, across a significant group of businesses and
RECYCLABLE, OR Breakdown, by commitment category, of signatories reporting through the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and UN Environment Programme
COMPOSTABLE
governments.
8 Suppliers to
the plastic
7 Raw material
producers - non-
3 Raw material
producers -
8 Beverages 6 Apparel,
Footwear
3 Cosmetics
4 Other
REUSE,
RECYCLING REPORTED DATA packaging
industry
compostable plastics compostable plastics & Accessories
OR COMPOSTING
IN PRACTICE This report and the accompanying sector insight
papers should be read alongside the individual
DECOUPLING progress reports submitted by business and
government signatories. These are available
TRANSPARENCY via an online platform which allows users to
browse individual signatory data and offers a 18
downloadable version of the full set of data. Governments 33
ENDNOTES
95 Packaging
Through making the data accessible in this way
we aim to maximise transparency on the progress
Packaging goods
11
APPENDIX
22 companies (brands), Household &
of individual signatories and the data collected Collecting, sorting packaging producers personal
and retailers care
through the reporting process. and recycling
companies 14 16
Food
The report provides a quantitative and qualitative Retail
assessment of progressmade by signatories
towards their 2025 commitments and targets o
ver the last year. Due to the timing of reporting
cycles, most quantitative data provided by
Note: Some signatories have committed in two different categories. As a result, the sum of signatories in each pie is higher than 130 businesses.
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EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
EXPLORE THE DATA
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS BY PROGRESS AREA BY SECTOR BY INDIVIDUAL ORGANISATION
Understand trends across the whole Read our series of three-pager documents See the progress of each individual Global
KEY PROGRESS
METRICS signatory group in this report focused on different sectors Commitment signatory via the online data
platform
Consumer packaged goods sectors:
TOP FMCGS
PERFORMANCE
Elimination Retail
Plastics producers
ABOUT THIS Reuse Beverage
REPORT Packaging producers and users
RRC by design Food
EXPLORE After-use companies
THE DATA RRC in practice Household and personal care
Suppliers to the plastic packaging industry
Decoupling Apparel
INSIGHTS BY
PROGRESS AREA Governments
Transparency Cosmetics
ELIMINATION
REUSE Tourism - via the the linked Global Tourism Plastics Initiative
REUSABLE,
RECYCLABLE, OR
COMPOSTABLE This analysis looks across all sectors and These sector deep dives will be useful for anyone
elements of the plastics value chain, businesses looking for benchmarks and examples of best Access the individual progress reports submitted
REUSE, and governments, to explore what progress we practice within specific sectors. by the signatories whose data is used in this
RECYCLING are seeing for the group as a whole. report, sort and filter by key metrics in summary
OR COMPOSTING
IN PRACTICE
tables, or download the full data set.
The sector insights will be published on the 16th

DECOUPLING of November
TRANSPARENCY
LOOKING FOR RESOURCES

ENDNOTES
TO SUPPORT YOU TO
APPENDIX
DRIVE CHANGE IN YOUR
ORGANISATION?
Access our Upstream Innovation Guide.
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EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
1 ELIMINATION
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS
WHY ELIMINATION?
Elimination of problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging through redesign, innovation,
KEY PROGRESS and new delivery models is a priority. The demand for plastic packaging is set to double
METRICS
over the coming two decades and it will be impossible to keep this increased flow of
TOP FMCGS plastics in the economy and out of the environment without elimination. To achieve a
PERFORMANCE circular economy, we need to curb the growth in the total amount of material that needs
to be circulated. While plastics bring many benefits, there are some problematic items
ABOUT THIS on the market that need to be eliminated to achieve a circular economy, and sometimes
REPORT
plastic packaging can be avoided altogether while maintaining utility. Elimination is about
EXPLORE
more than bans on straws and plastic bags — it is a broad innovation opportunity. More
THE DATA information about eliminating plastic packaging, including inspiring case studies and
actionable frameworks for approaching packaging design decisions, can be found in the
INSIGHTS BY Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Upstream Innovation Guide.
PROGRESS AREA
ELIMINATION
KEY INSIGHTS
REUSE
Momentum on elimination appears to be increasing, with continued focus on phasing
REUSABLE, out categories of plastic packaging most commonly identified as problematic, such as
RECYCLABLE, OR PVC, (E)PS and single-use straws, cutlery and hangers
COMPOSTABLE
REUSE, Leaders are looking beyond the most commonly identified categories to target a
RECYCLING
OR COMPOSTING
broader set of materials, formats and components
IN PRACTICE
Efforts involving more fundamental changes to packaging, product or business models

DECOUPLING
that design out the need for single-use packaging in the first place remain limited
TRANSPARENCY
More governments are taking actions to eliminate single-use plastic packaging and
ENDNOTES items, with some going beyond bans or restrictions on specific categories to take a
more holistic approach
APPENDIX
Source: L’Occitane en Provence

Solid shampoo
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Momentum on elimination appears FIGURE 6

EXECUTIVE to be increasing, with continued focus Signatories’ elimination efforts remains focused on a few plastic packaging categories,
SUMMARY on phasing out categories of plastic mainly materials, but some signatories are targeting wider range of categories
packaging most commonly identified Number of packaging producers, packaged goods companies, and retail signatories eliminating/reducing
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS as problematic, such as PVC, (E)PS and each category, and number of signatories with the category in their portfolio
single-use straws, cutlery and hangers
KEY PROGRESS The 2021 reporting cycle saw a total of 344 Percentage of signatories eliminating the category Number of signatories with the category in their portfolio
METRICS
examples reported of plastic packaging being
eliminated or reduced, with a 31% increase 5 15 25 35 45 55 65 75 85 95
TOP FMCGS
compared to the prior year, pointing to a greater
PERFORMANCE
focus on elimination activities by business PS (Polystyrene) 64% 56
signatories.6 Undetectable carbon black 81% 43
Material/Additives
ABOUT THIS
REPORT PVC 86% 42
For eight categories of packaging commonly
identified as problematic – single-use cutlery, Multilayer materials 49% 68
EXPLORE PVC, EPS, undetectable carbon black, single- EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) 83% 24
THE DATA use straws, PVDC, PS and single-use hangers PVCD 69% 26
– the majority (more than 60%) of signatories 31%
Metalised films 48
INSIGHTS BY who reported having any of these categories
PROGRESS AREA PETG in rigid plastic packaging 46% 26
in their portfolio indicated plans to phase them
out. Commitments to improving recyclability Other pigment/additive 31% 26
ELIMINATION of packaging are a significant driver for the
heavy focus on phasing out these categories of Single-use cutlery/serveware 83% 18
REUSE packaging, none of which are recyclable today.7 Single-use straws 68% 19
Single-use carrier bags 42% 24
REUSABLE, PVC was the category with the greatest focus,
RECYCLABLE, OR with 86% of signatories still using it indicating Film B2C - mono-material, clear 19% 53
COMPOSTABLE phase-out plans, and 32 examples submitted Film B2B 16% 62
delivering an annual reduction of more than Format Single-use hangers 62% 13
REUSE, 80,000 metric tonnes. For PS there were 16
RECYCLING Rigids B2C - pots, tubs and trays 14% 51
OR COMPOSTING examples submitted eliminating more than
Film B2C - other (opaque, printed, multi-material...) 13% 53
IN PRACTICE 17,000 metric tonnes. More than 2 billion single-
use plastic straws were also eliminated by Nestlé, Rigids B2C - household/personal products bottles 11% 44
DECOUPLING while H&M Group reduced their use of single-use Film - very small 10% 40
plastic hangers by 93 million. Rigids B2C - beverage bottles 7% 41
TRANSPARENCY 3% 31
Rigids B2B
Leaders are looking beyond the most
commonly identified categories to target Labels/stickers/sleeves 16% 74
Components
ENDNOTES
a broader set of materials, formats and Plastic windows 31% 32
APPENDIX
components Pumps/trigger sprays 20% 35
Lids/closures 8% 66
In comparison to last year, the proportion of
Tear-offs 9% 32
signatories reporting plans to eliminate or
reduce categories beyond those most commonly 5 15 25 35 45 55 65 75 85 95
identified above increased by 20% to 56
Number of brand, retail and packaging producer signatories = 95
signatories (59% of the signatories reporting),
suggesting businesses are increasing the scope
of elimination efforts.8
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On materials, there was heavy focus on the FIGURE 7

EXECUTIVE
broad category of multilayer materials (49% of Signatories delivered elimination or reduction mostly through material changes
SUMMARY signatories with them in their portfolio reported
plans to eliminate or reduce them), and metalised rather than fundamental changes that would avoid the need for (single-use)
PERSPECTIVE films (31%). Many signatories (31%) also indicated packaging in the first place
ON PROGRESS plans to reduce use of coloured pigments, which
Elimination/reduction method used by brand, retail and packaging producer signatories, as a
tend to reduce quality of recyclates. percentage of the total number of elimination/reduction examples reported
KEY PROGRESS
METRICS 45% of signatories reported plans to reduce
or eliminate other specific formats of plastic
TOP FMCGS packaging.9 This most commonly included flexible 1% 1%
plastic packaging formats such as B2C mono- Innovative elimination Reuse 'return' model
PERFORMANCE
1%
material films (targeted by 19% of signatories Reuse 'refill' model
ABOUT THIS
with them in their portfolio, with elimination of
REPORT 87 million units in 2020 by L’Oréal), B2C multi-
material films (13%) and sachets (10%). Rigid 19%
Substitution to paper
packaging formats targeted included pots, tubs
EXPLORE
THE DATA and trays (14% of signatories with them in their 20%
portfolio), as well as bottles for household and Direct elimination
INSIGHTS BY
personal care products (11%) and beverages (7%).
PROGRESS AREA
22% of signatories indicated plans to eliminate
ELIMINATION
specific packaging components, often aimed
at improving recyclability of the remaining
24%
packaging, with plastic windows (31% of Fundamental
REUSE
signatories with them in their portfolio) and 1% change
pumps and trigger sprays (20%) most frequently Substitution to
REUSABLE, compostable plastic
targeted. There were also 18 examples submitted
RECYCLABLE, OR
of labels, stickers or sleeves being eliminated, 2%
COMPOSTABLE
including around 27 million eliminated by Other methods 76% 18%
Substitution to
REUSE, Sovena Group. of elimination Material change another plastic
RECYCLING
OR COMPOSTING
6%
IN PRACTICE Efforts involving more fundamental Substitution to
changes to packaging, product or another material
DECOUPLING
business models that design out the need
for single use packaging in the first place 7%
TRANSPARENCY Substitution to
remain limited monomaterial plastic
12%
The most common solution to deliver Lightweighting
ENDNOTES
elimination – used in 51% of examples – was 10%
simple substitution of one material for another, Removal of a pigment
APPENDIX
most often other plastics or paper, rather than
fundamental redesign to avoid the need for
(single-use) packaging altogether. 48% of Note: Fundamental changes to packaging, product or business model design include:
signatories reporting examples of elimination • Direct elimination: direct removal of a packaging that does not serve as an essential function
efforts pointed to efforts involving substitution for • Innovative elimination: indirect elimination through innovation of a packaging that does serve an essential function
paper, and 41% substitution for other plastics to • Reuse 'refill' model: packaging that is owned and refilled by the user
• Reuse ‘return’ model: packaging and ‘packaging ownership’ that are returned to a business
deliver elimination of problematic or unnecessary
More information on different types of elimination methods and examples will be available in the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's Upstream Innovation Guide
categories.
P
There were relatively few examples using more tableware, non-home compostable produce Recycle) decree. Through its law against waste
EXECUTIVE
innovative solutions – such as switching to reuse labels and single-use produce bags by 2025. for a circular economy (“AGEC law”), the country
SUMMARY models or solid products – to deliver elimination Through a newly introduced bill, São Paulo is is also requesting that EPR organisations set
(see Figure 7). Less than 3% of examples prohibiting single-use plastic products in hotels, objectives to reduce packaging placed on the
PERSPECTIVE involved elimination or reduction by switching to restaurants, bars, and bakeries, alongside other market, in particular single-use plastic packaging,
ON PROGRESS reusable packaging (read more about progress commercial buildings, with progressive fines as well as offering an app through which
on reuse in the next chapter). Only 20% of used as an economic disincentive in the case consumers will be able to report products with
KEY PROGRESS examples were of direct elimination, where of noncompliance. Joining the Welsh and the packaging that they consider to be excessive.
METRICS packaging is simply removed and not replaced. English governments in banning a set of single- Nine other governments reported that they are
Most of these involved removal of single-use use plastic packaging, the United Kingdom also intending to use EPR regulations as a way of
TOP FMCGS cutlery or components such as lids and straws, reported that nine commonly littered single- driving elimination of problematic or unnecessary
PERFORMANCE although there were also examples where flexible use plastic items are to be banned in 2022 in plastic packaging and products.
packaging such as plastic bags for fruit and Northern Ireland.
ABOUT THIS vegetables had been removed. Public procurement and the use of economic
REPORT Although it remains a minority, the number of incentives or disincentives (e.g. subsidies and
Read more insights on elimination as well as governments targeting other categories of plastic taxes) were also mentioned by governments as
leading examples of elimination activities from packaging – beyond those most commonly means to drive elimination of problematic or
EXPLORE
THE DATA signatories in our series of sector-based insight identified as problematic – also increased, unnecessary plastic packaging and products.
papers. to 28% compared to 6% in 2019, with a few This includes, as a new example, France, who
INSIGHTS BY
governments taking a more holistic approach reported that the state will no longer purchase
PROGRESS AREA to driving elimination, including through setting single-use plastic for it's workplaces and events it
More governments are taking actions to reduction targets. Joining the Netherlands, which organises from 2022. The country also reported
ELIMINATION
eliminate single-use plastic packaging has a target to use 20% less plastics by 2025 as that it will increase its tariff for PVC packaging
and items, with some going beyond bans part of the Plastics Pact NL, France has set out by 75% compared to the basic tariff for clear PET
or restrictions on specific categories to plans to reduce single-use plastic packaging by packaging for bottles.
REUSE
20% by 2025 through its “3R” (Reduce, Reuse,
take a more holistic approach
REUSABLE,
RECYCLABLE, OR In 2020, more government signatories reported
COMPOSTABLE measures targeting specific categories of plastic
FIGURE 8
packaging or product compared to 2019, in
REUSE, particular single-use plastic straws, cutlery/ More governments are putting in place measures targeting specific
RECYCLING tableware, plastic bottles, and cotton buds. categories of plastic packaging and products
OR COMPOSTING
IN PRACTICE % of government signatories with measures targeting each category
67% of government signatories established
or revised legal measures, including bans or 2019 2020
DECOUPLING restrictions on specific categories of plastic
packaging and products that are commonly =0
TRANSPARENCY +17
identified as problematic. For instance, Chile
has eliminated 6.7 billion plastic bags since the
94%
94%
+18
88%
roll out of the ban on plastic bags in retail in

ENDNOTES =0
2018, and is planning to ban single-use plastic
71%
straws, drink stirrers and cutlery as well as
65%
APPENDIX
59%
59%
expanded polystyrene (EPS) products from +17
+11 +23
January 2022. In 2021, New Zealand announced
47%
=0
the planned phase-out of some hard-to-
35%
29%
29%
recycle plastic packaging including PVC and
24%
24%
6%
18%
18%
polystyrene food and beverage packaging, all
oxo-degradable plastics and six single-use items
including cotton buds, straws, drink stirrers, Single-use Single-use Single-use cut- Single-use plas- Single-use Single-use ePS Other plastic
plastic bags plastic lery/tableware tic cups plastic plastic cotton packaging cate-
straws bottles buds gories
P
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
2 REUSE
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS
WHY REUSE?
The shift away from single-use towards reusable packaging is a critical part of eliminating
KEY PROGRESS plastic pollution. While improving recycling is crucial, we cannot recycle our way out of
METRICS
the plastic issues we currently face. Wherever relevant, reuse business models should be
TOP FMCGS explored as a preferred option, reducing the need for single-use plastic packaging. To
PERFORMANCE learn more about the four key business models for reuse, the major business benefits of
reuse, and countless examples of reuse in action, see the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s
ABOUT THIS Upstream Innovation Guide. UNEP’s review of Life Cycle Assessment studies comparing
REPORT
single-use plastic products and their alternatives can be found here.
EXPLORE
THE DATA
KEY INSIGHTS
INSIGHTS BY
PROGRESS AREA The proportion of reusable plastic packaging remains very small at less than 2% of the
total, and more than half of signatories are still reporting 0% reusable packaging
ELIMINATION
REUSE While engagement with reuse models does appear to be increasing, it is concerning
that levels of piloting and ambition appear very low
REUSABLE,
RECYCLABLE, OR
COMPOSTABLE Business signatories appear to be focusing more on refill over return-based models,
with efforts on products in the cosmetics and personal care, beverage, cleaning, and
REUSE,
RECYCLING food categories and markets in Western European and North American a focus for
OR COMPOSTING future expansion
IN PRACTICE
DECOUPLING Moving beyond the delivery of awareness-raising and education campaigns, an

increasing number of governments plan to focus on EPR and economic incentives/
TRANSPARENCY disincentives to encourage reuse
ENDNOTES
APPENDIX
Source: Schwarz Group

In-store refill station for cleaning products
P
The proportion of reusable plastic The total number of reuse pilots launched or end of 2021 in the UK, Germany, Belgium and the
EXECUTIVE packaging remains very small at less planned also increased, up 54% compared to Netherlands, with ‘significantly more to follow’ in
the prior year to 628, with 44% of all signatories 2022.
SUMMARY than 2% of the total, and more than
having launched at least one pilot over the
half of signatories are still reporting 0% reporting period, up from 37%. A few signatories In general, there is a concerning lack of ambition
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS reusable packaging reported conducting a larger number of pilots – and action on reuse, in particular among the
Nestlé, 20; L’Oréal, 17; Berry Global, 12; Unilever, 26% of signatories who indicated no increase in
Just 1.6% of brand and retail signatories’
11; Schwarz Group, 9; AptarGroup 8; ALBEA 8; SC their percentage of reusable packaging, as well
KEY PROGRESS packaging was designed to be reusable in 2020
METRICS Johnson, 7. Some specified plans to extend roll- as no pilots in place or planned. However, even
— a small reduction from 1.8% the prior year.
out of reuse models significantly: following a trial for those with pilots in place, few are showing
While this overall decline was mostly driven
TOP FMCGS in collaboration with Loop in France, METRO AG meaningful ambition in these activities, with
by The Coca-Cola Company, which accounts
PERFORMANCE will expand this partnership across approximately most focusing on pilots for very few products in
for the largest amount of the reusable plastic
65 more stores in France, Germany and Spain, very few markets only. 61% of brand, retailer and
packaging and saw a significant reduction (which
ABOUT THIS while SC Johnson reported they will roll out packaging producer signatories had no more
the company reported was partly driven by the
REPORT approximately 25-40 refill stations before the than three pilots delivered or planned, and 56%
impact on sales of the COVID-19 pandemic), the
rest of the group did not show consistent growth:
EXPLORE just 23% of brand and retail signatories grew
THE DATA their percentage of reusable packaging in 2020, FIGURE 9
and just over half (56%) reported a reusable The proportion of signatories with reuse models or pilots in place has increased
INSIGHTS BY percentage of 0%.
PROGRESS AREA Percentage of brand, retail and packaging producer signatories at different stages of engagement with reuse
The Apparel and Cosmetics sectors stood out
as the only two to significantly increase their Reuse models in place Only reuse pilots in place No reuse models or pilots in place
ELIMINATION
overall share of reusable plastic packaging in
REUSE 2020. Cosmetics signatories collectively reported 2019 52% 9% 39%
the highest proportion on average of reusable
2020 57% 14% 29%
REUSABLE, packaging at 17.4% – this was up from 10.5% the
RECYCLABLE, OR prior year,driven by roll-out of refill stations in
COMPOSTABLE stores and refill-at-home models. Signatories in
the Apparel sector reported an average of 10.6%
REUSE, FIGURE 10 FIGURE 11
reusable plastic packaging, up from 5.9.0% the
RECYCLING
OR COMPOSTING prior year, which appears to have been driven However, the vast majority of plastic And a majority of signatories are still
by increased adoption of closed loop reusable
IN PRACTICE packaging remains single-use, and the reporting 0% reusable plastic packaging
hanger solutions.
DECOUPLING
share of reusable plastic packaging has Distribution of reusable plastic packaging
percentages reported by brand, retail and
decreased for brand and retail signatories
TRANSPARENCY
While engagement with reuse models packaging producer signatories
Share of reusable plastic packaging as a percentage of total
does appear to be increasing, it is plastic packaging weight, for brand and retail signatories
concerning that levels of piloting and
ENDNOTES Reusable plastic Single-use plastic 22%
ambition appear very low of signatories
2019 2020 with between
APPENDIX The number of signatories with activities on reuse 0% and 3% reusable
did increase slightly in 2020, despite reports that plastic packaging
the COVID-19 pandemic delayed implementation
of reuse activities in some cases. 52% of brand, 98.2% 98.4%
retail and packaging producer signatories had
22%
indicated they had at least one reuse solution in 1.8% 56%
1.6% of signatories with
place in 2019, this increased to 57% for 2020.10 of signatories with 0% more than 3% reusable
reusable plastic packaging plastic packaging
-0.2
P
launched no pilots over the reporting period at When looking at the popularity of different (14 last year) and fewer companies indicating
EXECUTIVE
all. Given the time required to scale reuse models, types of reuse models among signatories, plans to introduce this type of model in future
SUMMARY it will be vital to see investment in piloting ‘Refill at home’ (e.g. concentrated refill pods (13 companies in 2020 compared to 22 last
efforts rapidly increase in order to achieve any for detergents) and B2B (e.g. reusable pallets year). However, looking at future plans on reuse
PERSPECTIVE meaningful shift by 2025. within supply chains) were the models most showed, as last year, a strong focus on ‘ Refill on
ON PROGRESS commonly reported as already being in place, the go’ and ‘Return from home’ models, as well
A small minority of signatories who have begun with 26 (+25% compared to last year) and 25 as an increasing interest in ‘Refill at home’ models
to signal their ambition by setting quantitative (+5%) signatories respectively indicating they going forward.
KEY PROGRESS
METRICS targets to make reuse solutions available across were working with these models. Despite being
a specific number of product lines or stores, a model accounting for large volumes of already Many signatories again reported partnering
TOP FMCGS including cosmetics companies L’OCCITANE reusable packaging (most notably that those with reuse specialists including Algramo, Loop,
PERFORMANCE en Provence, who are aiming to roll out reuse of The Coca-Cola Company and Danone S.A., and MIWA to deliver reuse solutions to their
solutions across all 3,000 of their stores, and whose established business segments use return- customers.
ABOUT THIS
NATURA COSMETICS, with a target to offer reuse based models to deliver beverages) ‘return on
REPORT models across 50% of their 166 product lines. the go’ (e.g. reusable beverage bottles) was Information on the different reuse model types
However, no signatory has yet indicated a target the model least commonly reported as being can be found in the Upstream Innovation Guide.
to deliver a minimum share of product units or already in place, mentioned by only 17 companies
EXPLORE
THE DATA revenues via reuse models.
INSIGHTS BY FIGURE 12
Business signatories appear to be
PROGRESS AREA The average share of reusable plastic packaging and progress made on this metric is
focusing more on refill over return-based
models, with cosmetics and personal marginal for most sectors
ELIMINATION
care products, beverages and cleaning Average share of reusable plastic packaging as a % of total plastic packaging weight, per sector
REUSE products and markets in Western Europe 2019 2020

and North America a focus for future
REUSABLE, Apparel,
RECYCLABLE, OR
expansion 5.9%
footwear and +4.7
COMPOSTABLE As last year, the most common product accessories 10.6%
categories for which reuse models were reported
REUSE, 8.6%
to be in place were non-alcoholic beverages and
RECYCLING
cosmetics and personal care products. Over
Beverages -0.2
OR COMPOSTING 8.4%
IN PRACTICE this year, cleaning products have been an area
of increasing focus with 58% more signatories
reporting having reuse models in place for 10.5%
DECOUPLING Cosmetics +6.9
this product category compared to last year, 17.4%
TRANSPARENCY there was also a 23% increase in the number of
signatories with reuse models in place for food 0.6%
and nutrition products. Food =0
0.6%
ENDNOTES
From a geographical perspective, as last year,
APPENDIX brand and retail signatories most commonly Household & 2.8%
indicated having reuse models available in North -0.1
personal care 2.7%
America, Europe, and South America. They were
least often reported in African markets, but there
is evidence of an increase in focus going forward 8.9%
Retail -2.2
with 12 signatories reporting plans to develop 6.8%
reuse models in Africa, compared to just six last
year (+100%). Packaging 1.0%
manufacturing -0.1
1.0%
P
Moving beyond the delivery of to achieve 100% reusable cups or packaging

EXECUTIVE awareness-raising and education from the national deposit return scheme
by 2024.
SUMMARY campaigns, an increasing number of
governments plan to focus on EPR and • As of 2022, Portugal will oblige businesses
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS economic incentives/disincentives to in the hotel sector to keep tap water and
encourage reuse sanitised glasses available to customers
for consumption on site. From 2023, drinks
KEY PROGRESS Encouragement of voluntary actions, awareness-
METRICS consumed on-site will have to be provided
raising and education campaigns, alongside in reusable format, when such formats are
promotion of collaboration with the private available on the market and vendors selling
TOP FMCGS
sector and civil society organisations, were the ready-to-eat meals and bulk products will
PERFORMANCE
most common measures used to drive progress have to accept reusable containers brought
on reuse by governments in 2020, all cited by by customers.
ABOUT THIS at least half of the group. Other reported efforts
REPORT
to increase adoption of reuse models included • Ljubljana is promoting drinking fountains
support for pilot projects or reuse solutions or to decrease the need to buy bottled water.
EXPLORE systems that include establishing mandatory
THE DATA
There are 44 public drinking fountains in
requirements to provide products in reusable Ljubljana, visible on a dedicated app.
formats, especially in the retail/catering sector.
INSIGHTS BY
PROGRESS AREA
• In the United Kingdom, the Welsh
Notable new examples of progress or planned government committed GBP 200,000
actions on reuse by governments reported this towards a refill scheme to promote free
ELIMINATION year include: drinking water access instead of using
single-use plastic bottles, and reported
REUSE • France has specified that at least 50% of having 1,947 refill points in 2020.
its objective to decrease single-use plastic
REUSABLE, packaging by 20% by 2025 must be obtained Looking forward, an increasing number of
RECYCLABLE, OR by reuse of packaging (including bulk sale, government signatories, and a third in total,
COMPOSTABLE refills, and deposit-return schemes). Going indicated plans to establish or revising economic
forward, France also mentioned that EPR incentives, such as subsidies, or disincentives,
REUSE, organisations will have to annually commit
RECYCLING
such as taxes or charges (six governments,
OR COMPOSTING at least 2% of the contributions they receive up from just one doing so in 2020) as well as
IN PRACTICE to the development of solutions for the reuse Extended Producer Responsibility schemes (six
of packaging. governments, up from four doing so in 2020) to
DECOUPLING encourage reuse models.
• Chile plans to roll out a single-use plastics
TRANSPARENCY
law to make it mandatory for supermarkets
and other marketers to offer a minimum
of 30% of beverages in returnable bottles,
ENDNOTES as well as for e-commerce sales from
2024 onwards.
APPENDIX
• Copenhagen is planning to establish test-
zones for reusable take-away packaging
in areas of the city with most take-away
activities, with three test zones for containers
planned in 2021. For major events held in
municipal owned areas, Copenhagen aims
P
EXECUTIVE
3 REUSABLE,
RECYCLABLE, OR
SUMMARY
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS
KEY PROGRESS
METRICS
TOP FMCGS
PERFORMANCE
COMPOSTABLE
ABOUT THIS
WHY DESIGN FOR REUSE, RECYCLING, OR COMPOSTING?
REPORT
In a circular economy, every unit of packaging should be recyclable or compostable
and, where possible, also reusable. Achieving this requires a combination of redesign
EXPLORE
THE DATA and innovation in business models, materials, packaging design, and reprocessing
technologies. Designing packaging to be reusable, recyclable, or compostable (the focus
INSIGHTS BY of this chapter) is a crucial first step towards ensuring it is effectively reused, recycled, or
PROGRESS AREA
composted in practice (the focus of Chapter 4).
ELIMINATION
REUSE KEY INSIGHTS

REUSABLE,
The overall percentage of signatories’ plastic packaging that is ‘reusable, recyclable,
RECYCLABLE, OR or compostable’ increased marginally in 2020, driven by substitution away from some
COMPOSTABLE non-recyclable materials and formats as well as improved design for recycling
REUSE,
RECYCLING
OR COMPOSTING
Many signatories face significant challenges meeting their 2025 targets owing to
IN PRACTICE the large proportion of non-recyclable packaging, in particular flexible packaging,
in their portfolios
DECOUPLING
TRANSPARENCY Signatories continue to work to adapt their packaging portfolios to improve their
recyclability scores, using a combination of four strategies
ENDNOTES
Governments have focused primarily on voluntary actions and awareness-raising
APPENDIX to incentivise reusable, recyclable, or compostable plastic packaging. Few have put in
place regulatory measures involving EPR, on-pack labelling or economic incentives/
disincentives
Source: PepsiCo
Removal of green pigment in 7UP bottles
P
The overall percentage of signatories’ Many signatories face significant including PVC, PS, and EPS, with potential to
EXECUTIVE plastic packaging that is ‘reusable, challenges meeting their 2025 targets increase overall recyclability for the group by
up to 2 percentage points if entirely eliminated.
SUMMARY recyclable, or compostable’ increased owing to the large proportion of non-
However, many signatories use large volumes
marginally in 2020, driven by recyclable packaging, in particular of other categories not considered recyclable
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS substitution away from some non- flexible packaging, in their portfolios in practice and at scale today, most notably
recyclable materials and formats as well The results of the 2021 New Plastics Economy flexible consumer packaging, which represents
KEY PROGRESS as improved design for recycling Recycling Rate Survey, used by signatories to 18% of signatories’ plastic packaging weight, who
METRICS support reporting on recyclability, were in line therefore face a significant related challenge to
Brand and retail signatories reported that fully meet the 100% target by 2025.
64.8% of their plastic packaging was reusable, with those of the 2020 Survey, indicating just
TOP FMCGS five categories of plastic packaging meet the
PERFORMANCE recyclable, or compostable in 2020, with a This will require either substituting or innovating
relatively high proportion of recyclable plastic threshold for the Global Commitment definition
away from these non-recyclable packaging types,
packaging (64.0%), but only a small amount of recyclable today – these are: PET bottles,
ABOUT THIS
or making appropriate design changes and
of reusable packaging (1.6%) and a very small HDPE bottles, HDPE other rigids, PP bottles,
REPORT helping to drive scaling of recycling infrastructure
amount of compostable packaging (0.01%).11 and >A4 mono-material PE flexibles in a B2B
for categories with potential to meet the scale
context.12
thresholds.
EXPLORE The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on 2020
THE DATA
consumption patterns, with changes in the Many signatories are taking action to eliminate
volumes of different products sold involving some categories of plastic packaging not
INSIGHTS BY shifts away from and towards categories with considered recyclable in practice and at scale
PROGRESS AREA
recyclable or reusable packaging, have limited
the ability to compare year-on-year data
ELIMINATION somewhat, in particular for sectors which saw
bigger shifts. However, the overall proportion FIGURE 13
REUSE of reusable, recyclable, or compostable
packaging increased by 0.5 percentage points Signatories marginally increased their share of reusable, recyclable or compostable
REUSABLE, for signatories reporting in both years, with plastic packaging, which was driven entirely by progress on recyclability
RECYCLABLE, OR
COMPOSTABLE
recyclable packaging increasing slightly by Share of reusable, recyclable, or compostable plastic packaging as a percentage of total plastic packaging
0.7 percentage points, reusable packaging weight, for brand and retail signatories
REUSE, decreasing slightly by 0.2 percentage points,
2019 2020 2025 Reusable, recyclable or compostable plastic packaging target
RECYCLING and the proportion of compostable packaging
OR COMPOSTING remaining flat at 0.01%. 100%
Reusable,
IN PRACTICE 64.8%
Looking at trends across different consumer recyclable or +0.5
compostable 65.3%
DECOUPLING goods sectors, the Beverages and Household
& personal care sectors reported the highest 63.9%
TRANSPARENCY proportion on average of reusable, recyclable, or Recyclable +0.6
compostable packaging as a result of their high
64.5%
use of widely recycled rigid packaging formats
1.8%
ENDNOTES and materials such as PET and HDPE bottles. The Reusable -0.2
Food, Retail, and Cosmetics sectors reported 1.6%
APPENDIX on average significantly lower proportions of
recyclable packaging, as a result of their large 0.01%
Compostable =0
volumes of smaller format and flexible packaging 0.01%
formats which are not recyclable in practice and
at scale today.
P
Signatories continue to work to adapt for clear PET. This also includes efforts to 4 A move away from certain formats or
EXECUTIVE their packaging portfolios to improve improve plastics sorting prior to recycling, materials for which no scaled system
with 15 brand, retailer and packaging for recycling exists. Many signatories are
SUMMARY their recyclability scores. This activity
producer signatories referencing Digimarc’s choosing to move away from some non-
can be broken into four categories: digital watermarking technology as an area recyclable categories of packaging. Beyond
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS Changes for packaging categories for which of exploration (see next chapter). While these phasing out some of the most commonly
a system for recycling at scale currently exists changes do not affect recyclability scores, identified problematic categories such as
KEY PROGRESS (69% of signatories’ plastic packaging): they are essential to increase the quantity PVC, PS, and EPS (referenced in Chapter
METRICS of high-quality recycled content available, 1), examples include complete removal of
1 Changes to packaging to ensure it ‘fits’ and to improve efficiency and returns for some categories of flexible plastics (such
TOP FMCGS existing recycling systems. For some recyclers. as secondary films on multi-buy products),
PERFORMANCE packaging, while scaled systems to recycle and substitution towards other packaging
the broad category they fit into do exist, Changes for packaging types for which a system formats or materials. These efforts are also
ABOUT THIS particular features – such as caps, fixtures, for recycling at scale does not currently exist (the driving small increases in recyclability scores.
REPORT or labels – mean they do not ‘fit’ that system remaining 31% of signatories’ plastic packaging):
and can’t be recycled. Some signatories Other efforts in this area are not addressing
have been working on re-designing these 3 Design changes aiming to increase the packaging design but are instead focussed
EXPLORE
THE DATA packaging types to render them recyclable. suitability of packaging for recycling and on creating or stimulating the scaling of
These design changes have driven small facilitate the establishment or scaling establishment or collection and recycling
increases in recyclability scores. Examples recycling systems. Recycling must be systems. These activities are covered in the
INSIGHTS BY
PROGRESS AREA include removal of undetectable carbon proven to work ‘in practice and at scale’ next chapter.
black pigment (referenced in Chapter 1 on for packaging to be considered recyclable
Elimination), which does not allow packaging under the Global Commitment. This means Read more insights on how signatories are
ELIMINATION that these redesign efforts – which include working towards making 100% of their plastic
to be identified during sorting for recycling,
and removal or redesign of components such changes such as substituting multi-materials packaging reusable, recyclable, or compostable in
REUSE
as caps, lids, pumps, and trigger sprays that for mono-materials, and other changes our series of sector-based insight papers.
can prevent items from being processed for referenced in (1) and (2) – when applied
REUSABLE, More information on solutions to make packaging
recycling. Changes of this sort have potential to packaging types for which a system
RECYCLABLE, OR
for recycling at scale does not currently reusable, recyclable, or compostable can be
COMPOSTABLE to increase overall recyclability for the group
exist, will not have an immediate impact on found in the Upstream Innovation Guide.
by up to 5 percentage points, from 64% to
REUSE, 69%. reported recyclability percentages. However,
RECYCLING it is important to recognise these efforts
OR COMPOSTING 2 Changes to packaging to increase efficiency as they are necessary steps to improve
IN PRACTICE percentages over time for categories of
of the sorting and recycling process or the
quality of output. Many of these efforts packaging for which recycling systems are
DECOUPLING scaling up — as a result, some signatories this
have been identified as part of reporting
on elimination efforts, such as removal or year reported an optional additional metric
TRANSPARENCY on the proportion of their packaging that is
replacement of labels to improve the ease
of recycling, and substituting coloured PET ‘designed for recyclability’, which is displayed
in individual signatory progress reports.
ENDNOTES
APPENDIX
P
How are recyclability and compostability assessed in the Global Commitment?

EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY The definitions used by Global Commitment signatories to assess the proportion of recyclable or
compostable packaging in their portfolios are more stringent than most other definitions.
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS
The commitment to 100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable plastic packaging by 2025 is based
on definitions that ask signatories to go beyond designing packaging for the technical possibility of
recycling or composting, and requires that recycling or composting is proven to work ‘in practice
KEY PROGRESS
METRICS and at scale’ for any given packaging design. The suggested thresholds to prove recycling or
composting works ‘in practice and at scale’ isare: a 30% recycling/composting rate achieved across
TOP FMCGS
multiple regions, collectively representing at least 400 million inhabitants. To support reporting on
PERFORMANCE recyclability, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation has for the last two years conducted a global survey
of organisations with expertise on recycling rates with the aim of filling gaps in data required to
provide evidence of where these thresholds are being met. The results of this exercise are available
ABOUT THIS
REPORT here.
The ‘in practice and at scale’ requirement and suggested thresholds result in some signatories
EXPLORE
reporting low or moderate recyclability percentages today. The thresholds also mean that progress
THE DATA
towards 2025 targets can be expected to follow a ‘lumpy’ trajectory (e.g. if infrastructure to collect
and recycle certain high-volume categories of packaging reaches the threshold scale requirement,
INSIGHTS BY
recyclability scores would increase significantly). However, these definitions set a clear 2025
PROGRESS AREA
ambition level. Working towards this level of ambition and creating transparency on current
recyclability percentages demonstrates the commitment of signatories to driving change at scale.
ELIMINATION
It should be noted that recyclability and compostability percentages reported as part of the
REUSE Global Commitment are not comparable to assessments and claims of recyclability using different
definitions or methodologies. The definitions of recyclability and compostability used in the context
REUSABLE, of the Global Commitment are designed to be applied at a global level and are not linked to any
RECYCLABLE, OR specific geographical area, local context, or regulations, or on-pack recyclability or compostability
COMPOSTABLE
labels.
REUSE,
Full details of the definitions and suggested assessment methodology for Global Commitment
RECYCLING
OR COMPOSTING signatories are available in the Global Commitment reporting guidelines document here.
IN PRACTICE
To ensure full transparency, signatories were asked to explicitly confirm if they had strictly followed
DECOUPLING
the suggested methodology. If they hadn’t, they were asked to explain any deviations from the
suggested methodology and provide evidence used to support this decision. All of this information
TRANSPARENCY
is available on a company-by-company basis. Overall, the quality and consistency of reporting
on recyclability has increased significantly compared to last year, with the number of signatories
deviating from the suggested methodology reducing by 55%. While a number of companies
ENDNOTES deviated from the suggested methodology, and while deviations for certain individual signatories
may have been significant, the impact of any deviations on aggregate data is relatively small. Based
APPENDIX on the data available, we estimate that if all packaged goods and retail signatories had strictly
followed the methodology, the share of recyclable packaging would be around 2 percentage points
lower than the currently reported 64%.
P
Governments have focused primarily incorporating recyclability criteria for

EXECUTIVE on promoting collaboration with packaging used in fresh food procurements
and France which set an objective to have
SUMMARY the private sector and encouraging
10% of government bottles and flasks
voluntary actions to incentivise reusable, purchased as reusable products.
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS recyclable, or compostable plastic
packaging. Few have put in place • The United Kingdom government is
regulatory measures involving EPR, on- supporting the UK Plastic Pact which
KEY PROGRESS
includes members responsible for 80%
METRICS pack labelling or economic incentives of plastic packaging sold through UK
TOP FMCGS In 2020, Governments mostly focused on supermarkets, and has a target for 100% of
PERFORMANCE promoting collaboration with the private sector, plastics packaging to be reusable, recyclable,
including small and medium-sized enterprises, or compostable by 2025.
ABOUT THIS and civil society organisations and encouraging
REPORT voluntary actions to incentivise the use of A number of governments (22%) also reported
reusable, recyclable, or compostable plastic using EPR policies to drive actions in this area
packaging, with around 40% of governments to incentivise the use of reusable, recyclable, or
EXPLORE
THE DATA implementing each action, respectively. Looking compostable plastic packaging. These included
forward, while the above actions continue, the Chile, France and the United Kingdom, who in
number of governments looking to develop or their EPR schemes will include fees for producers
INSIGHTS BY
PROGRESS AREA review regulations, standards, or guidelines, such depending on the recyclability of their packaging,
as standards for on-pack recyclability claims, will amongst other criteria. As part of its consultation
increase, with 44% of governments having either with the Welsh and Scottish governments as
ELIMINATION well as the Northern Ireland Executive on its
implemented these actions in 2020, or looking to
implement them by 2025. EPR scheme, the United Kingdom is proposing
REUSE
that mandatory recyclability labelling should be
Notable new examples of progress or planned introduced as soon as is feasible.
REUSABLE,
RECYCLABLE, OR
actions led by governments to incentivise
COMPOSTABLE reusable, recyclable, or compostable plastic
packaging by 2025 reported this year include:
REUSE,
RECYCLING • Peru is looking at establishing requirements
OR COMPOSTING for single-use plastic bags and cutlery/
IN PRACTICE tableware to be reusable, recyclable, or
compostable.
DECOUPLING
• Rwanda is developing a draft law establishing
TRANSPARENCY an environmental levy on imported consumer
goods in single-use plastic packaging.
ENDNOTES • Several local and national governments

are also looking at public procurement
APPENDIX to encourage reusable, recyclable, or
compostable plastic packaging. This includes
Copenhagen, which along with planning
to reduce single-use plastic packaging in
the City, has established new guidelines
P
EXECUTIVE
4 REUSE, RECYCLING,
OR COMPOSTING
SUMMARY
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS
KEY PROGRESS
METRICS
TOP FMCGS
PERFORMANCE
IN PRACTICE
ABOUT THIS
WHY REUSE, RECYCLING, AND COMPOSTING IN PRACTICE?
REPORT
Designing all packaging to be reusable, recyclable, or compostable (the focus of the
previous section) is a necessary first step, but a circular economy is only realised
EXPLORE
THE DATA if packaging is actually reused, recycled, or composted in practice. Next to circular
packaging design, this requires the necessary systems to be in place to collect, sort, and
INSIGHTS BY effectively reuse, recycle, or compost the packaging. This section focuses on signatories’
PROGRESS AREA
efforts and commitments to put these systems in place.
ELIMINATION
REUSE KEY INSIGHTS

REUSABLE, Recycler signatories grew their total recycling output by 12% between 2019 to 2020,
RECYCLABLE, OR with capacity heavily weighted towards PET recycling
COMPOSTABLE
REUSE, There is now broad support for EPR from businesses across the value chain, with
RECYCLING
OR COMPOSTING
brands and retailers also launching new partnerships and investments aimed at
IN PRACTICE increasing collection, sorting and recycling rates
DECOUPLING
Investments in collection and sorting technologies and infrastructure continue to be
TRANSPARENCY made, with building momentum on digital watermarking technology
ENDNOTES Governments are increasingly investing in collection and recycling infrastructure, and
are implementing, or planning, deposit return schemes as well as EPR measures to
APPENDIX ensure financing for after-use systems
Source: INCOM RECYCLE Co., Ltd. Beijing

Recycling facility in Tianjin
P
Recycler signatories grew their total The growth in recycling output was driven by • Retailer Schwarz Group’s disposal and waste
EXECUTIVE recycling output by 12% between 2019 a combination of expansion or increased use management company PreZero has in the
of capacity in current facilities, acquisitions of last year invested in washing and extrusion
SUMMARY to 2020, with capacity heavily weighted
existing facilities or build of new ones. This came lines and bought new land in Austria and Italy
towards PET recycling not just from recycling specialists but also from to increase its recycling capacity from around
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS Total recycling output for signatories in the other businesses from across the plastics value 70,000 to 90,000 metric tonnes, and begun
‘recycler’ category was around 1.5 million metric chain – including those engaged in plastics planning construction of two new recycling
KEY PROGRESS tonnes in 2020, with growth of 12% compared to production, packaging production, and even plants in Europe — including one which
METRICS 2019 for signatories reporting in both of the last retail. Notable new investments in collection, will specialise in production of high-quality
two years.13 The growth for signatories reporting recycling facilities reported this year included: HDPE and PP recyclates for use in detergent,
TOP FMCGS in 2018 and 2019 was 9%, suggesting that, hygiene and cosmetic packaging.
PERFORMANCE despite a number of recyclers reporting that the • Waste management company Suez’s start-
COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on up of a new LDPE recycling plant in Thailand • Packaging producer ALPLA reported that
ABOUT THIS their operations and outputs, growth in recycling which will deliver 30,000 metric tonnes it had started construction of an HDPE
REPORT output may have still accelerated over the period. annual capacity and acquisition of a PP recycling plant with an annual capacity
The increase seen was largely driven by Veolia’s recycling plant in Belgium, with capacity for of 15,000 tons (~14,000 metric tonnes) in
strong growth in recycling output – up 43% 20,000 metric tonnes. Toluca, Mexico, with production due to begin
EXPLORE
THE DATA compared to the prior year – however half of in autumn 2021.
all recyclers did report a year-on-year increase
• Plastic producer Indorama Ventures
INSIGHTS BY in their recycling output, with these signatories
increased its post-consumer recycling • Packaging producer Envases Universales
PROGRESS AREA
production capacity by 46,000 to 346,000 de México reported that in March 2021
reporting an average of 21% growth.
metric tonnes from the prior year. With the it inaugurated ‘the largest PET recycling
This year data on the types of polymers being acquisition of a PET recycling plant in Texas facility in the world’, with an annual capacity
ELIMINATION in summer 2021, as well as the announcement of 60,000 tons (~54,000 metric tonnes)
processed by recycler signatories was collected
for the first time, which highlighted the heavy of a plan to build a new PET recycling facility producing FDA-grade resin that is currently
REUSE
focus on PET — recycled by 90% of recycling in West Java, Indonesia, their capacity is being used in the company’s beverage
signatories and accounting for 53% of the total expected to continue to grow in the next few products and will enable them to deliver a
REUSABLE,
output for signatories sharing this data.14 years. minimum of 15% of recycled content for the
RECYCLABLE, OR
COMPOSTABLE 2022 period.
REUSE,
RECYCLING
OR COMPOSTING FIGURE 14
IN PRACTICE
Recyclers and resin producers increased their production of recycled plastics for the second year in a row
DECOUPLING Weight of recycled plastics produced by recycler and resin producer signatories (millions of metric tonnes)
Weight change from organic growth Weight change from new signatories joining
TRANSPARENCY
Recycled plastics from recyclers Recycled plastics from resin producers

ENDNOTES
27% 4.9
APPENDIX annual growth 29%
needed to annual growth
reach the needed to
target reach the
target 1.9
+12% 1.5
1 +9% 1.2
+360% 0.5 +8% 0.5
0.1
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
target target
P
There is now broad support for EPR from systems, store take-back schemes, or research HolyGrail that emerged as part of the Ellen
EXECUTIVE businesses across the value chain, with projects to understand recycling of specific types MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy
of packaging. initiative — which now involves more than 130
SUMMARY brands and retailers also launching new
partners and has passed its initial testing phase.
partnerships and investments aimed A number of signatories shared efforts to Moreover, they report that they are working with
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS at increasing collection sorting and increase collection and recycling rates aimed at two optical sorting equipment manufacturers,
recycling rates, including through the either scaling capacity of specific polymers or representing approximately 80% market share,
Plastic Pact network packaging types, or driving up overall recycling to integrate Digimarc detection technology into
KEY PROGRESS
METRICS rates in specific markets. This included the 42% detection units for HolyGrail 2.0.
In the last year for the first time, more than 150 of signatories who reported they have now joined
leading businesses and other organisations one or more of EMF’s Plastic Pacts network15. Encorp Pacific (Canada) expanded its Express
TOP FMCGS
PERFORMANCE from across the packaging value chain, In doing so they will contribute towards driving solar panelled recycling stations to 13 additional
including more than 50 Global Commitment progress on the Pacts’ targets to increase locations to grow the quantity of beverage
business signatories, have publicly recognised recycling rates in their area. Some multinational containers recycled. The stations have longer
ABOUT THIS
REPORT that EPR is a necessary part of the solution to signatories are investing significantly in Pact drop off hours and a small format, which enable
create a circular economy for packaging. They efforts by joining multiple pacts, including: them to be placed in high-density urban areas
acknowledged that EPR schemes, through which Veolia, Danone S.A, Unilever, Schwarz Group, or in hard-to-service rural areas, where siting a
EXPLORE
THE DATA all industry players that introduce packaging Mars, Incorporated, The Coca-Cola Company traditional depot is challenging. In 2020, 26.4
to the market provide funding dedicated to and Nestlé. Keurig Dr Pepper, a member of the million plastic beverage containers were captured
its collecting and processing after use, are the US and Canada Plastic Pacts, in 2020 announced for recycling through its Express system.
INSIGHTS BY
PROGRESS AREA only proven and likely pathways to provide the a commitment of USD 10 million over the next
required funding, and that without such policies, five years to The Polypropylene Recycling
packaging collection and recycling is unlikely Coalition, aimed at increasing and improving the
ELIMINATION
to be meaningfully scaled and tens of millions collection and recycling of polypropylene plastic
of tonnes of packaging will continue to end up in the United States.
REUSE
in the environment every year. They did that by
all endorsing an explicit call for implementation
REUSABLE,
RECYCLABLE, OR
of Extended Producer Responsibility schemes Investments in collection and sorting
COMPOSTABLE for packaging, mobilised by the Ellen technologies and infrastructure continue
MacArthur Foundation. We now need to see to be made, with building momentum on
more governments build on this strong and
REUSE, digital watermarking technology
RECYCLING constructive signal from industry, to accelerate
OR COMPOSTING the implementation of EPR policy for packaging The number of brand, retailer and packaging
IN PRACTICE
all around the world. producer signatories exploring digital
watermarking technology continues to grow
DECOUPLING Many packaging producers, brands, and retailer with 17 signatories in total mentioning it in their
signatories also reported collaborations with progress reporting. In cooperation with project
TRANSPARENCY other organisations to improve collection, sorting, HolyGrail, Digimarc Corporation has continued
and recycling systems for the packaging they work on its digital watermarking solution
put on the market. Many signatories referenced for sorting plastics in mixed waste streams.
ENDNOTES participation in industry recycling groups, The company reported that it is progressing
partnerships to establish or support recycling with HolyGrail 2.0 — a follow-up from project
APPENDIX
P
Governments are increasingly investing collection rates, with in total 72% and 50% of market rates for collectors and recyclers. The
EXECUTIVE in collection and recycling infrastructure, governments already having or planning to take country also reported that a deposit return
SUMMARY these measures by 2025. scheme will be put in place to involve plastic
and are implementing, or planning,
manufacturers in managing plastic waste.
deposit return schemes as well as EPR New examples of progress or planned actions
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS measures to ensure financing for after- to increase collection, sorting, and recycling • Buenos Aires reported the establishment of a
use systems rates, and facilitating the establishment of the committee with HDPE producers to increase
KEY PROGRESS
necessary infrastructure and related funding the collection of this plastic.
To drive up collection and recycling rates, 61% mechanisms by 2025 include:
METRICS
of governments invested in the collecting and • New Zealand plans to consult in early
recycling infrastructure in 2020. This includes • Chile approved an EPR packaging regulation 2022 on a new standardised national
TOP FMCGS
PERFORMANCE
Scotland, who launched a GBP 70 million in march 2021, which establishes collection kerbside collection system to improve rates
Recycling Improvement Fund to improve and recycling goals for packaging that will be of packaging not sent to landfill, reduce
local authority infrastructure, New Zealand mandatory from the year 2023. consumer confusion and support higher
ABOUT THIS
which invested NZD 35.3 million to improve quality recyclables.
REPORT
recycling systems, and the United Kingdom • Copenhagen is working with the Danish
which invested GBP 20 million into four plastic Deposit Return Scheme to include collection In total, 39% of governments are tracking
EXPLORE of deposit bottles at public facilities such as quantitative information on plastic collected,
reprocessing facilities in the country to support
THE DATA
the development of new technologies to recycle kindergartens and schools. sorted, recycled and/or composted and 33%
plastic waste. Buenos Aires reported installing have targets to increase the amount of plastic
INSIGHTS BY
containers for curbside recycling every 150 • In Rwanda, a study was carried out to collected, sorted, recycled or compostedby
PROGRESS AREA
meters, and the delivery of 600 recycling bins to identify the amount of waste plastics 2025. Although so far it is limited to a third of
government buildings and 190 to schools. Lastly, generated in the capital Kigali, the amount government signatories, this number is expected
ELIMINATION France reported that the Agency for ecological and types of plastic waste covered under the to increase going forward with these targets set
transition (ADEME) will provide EUR 55 million to recycling programme, the contributions from to become a mandatory requirement as part of
REUSE support the modernisation of sorting centers for manufacturers and importers, and proposed the Global Commitment in 2022.
packaging; sorting innovation and technologies,
REUSABLE, and selective sorting in the public space. In
RECYCLABLE, OR FIGURE 15
COMPOSTABLE addition, CITEO, the main EPR organisation for
household packaging in France, is providing Many governments are working on promoting collection, sorting, reuse, or
REUSE, EUR 150 million between 2018 and 2022 to recycling schemes and investing in infrastructure
RECYCLING local authorities to expand the types of plastic Percentage of governments reporting taking each measure
OR COMPOSTING packaging collected and sorted for recycling
IN PRACTICE beyond bottles and flasks to cover other formats. in 2020 by 2025 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Several governments did mention that the 61% 67%
Investment in infrastructure
DECOUPLING COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on waste
collection and recycling in their jurisdiction. Promotion of collection, sorting, reuse, and/or recycling schemes 50% 72%
TRANSPARENCY To support the informal sector through this,
São Paulo rolled out a programme to provide Delivery of awareness-raising and education campaigns 50% 56%
emergency conditional cash transfer for formal Promotion of collaboration with the private sector and civil
ENDNOTES 39% 56%
and informal pickers so workers can stay socially society organisations
isolated in quarantine.
APPENDIX Establishment or revision of Extended Producer Responsibility schemes 33% 50%
Going forward, along with continuing such
investments, governments are also focusing on Establishment or revision of economic incentives or disincentives 28% 33%
promoting the collection, sorting, reuse and/or
Encouragement of voluntary actions 28% 28%
recycling schemes for instance through deposit
return schemes and EPR schemes to ensure Establishment or revision of recycling guidance and
financing for after-use systems and improve 17% 22%
standards on plastic packaging and/or products
Provision of reliable packaging and/or product information to consumers 17% 22%

P
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
5 DECOUPLING
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS
WHY DECOUPLING?
Moving towards a circular economy for plastic packaging involves decoupling from finite
KEY PROGRESS (fossil) resources. This is achieved first and foremost by drastically reducing the need for
METRICS
virgin plastics through elimination, reuse, and use of recycled content. Then, over time,
TOP FMCGS any remaining virgin inputs must be switched to renewable feedstocks that are proven to
PERFORMANCE come from responsibly managed sources and to be environmentally beneficial.
ABOUT THIS
KEY INSIGHTS
REPORT
EXPLORE Brands and retailers in the Global Commitment have now reduced their use of virgin
THE DATA
plastic in packaging for two years in a row — a trend that is set to continue with
INSIGHTS BY mandatory reduction targets
PROGRESS AREA
Progress and ambition levels on reducing virgin plastic in packaging have been largely
ELIMINATION
driven by growth in use of post-consumer recycled content which has increased by
REUSE 60% since 2018
REUSABLE,
RECYCLABLE, OR To accelerate and sustain the reduction in virgin plastic, signatories will need to go
COMPOSTABLE beyond growing recycled content to increase focus on reducing the need for single-
use packaging in the first place
REUSE,
RECYCLING
OR COMPOSTING
IN PRACTICE
There was little evidence of signatories increasing renewable content in their plastic
packaging, however producers of compostable plastics are showing strong growth in
DECOUPLING output
TRANSPARENCY
A number of governments in Europe are joining businesses in setting reduction
targets, delivering these through their support for Plastic Pacts in their jurisdiction
ENDNOTES
APPENDIX
Source: L’Oréal
100% recycled PET bottle
P
Brands and retailers in the Global Progress and ambition levels on reducing — as last year — was mixed. Some signatories
EXECUTIVE Commitment have now reduced their virgin plastic in packaging have been made significant jumps, with 17 signatories (20%,
and up from 13 the prior year) all increasing their
SUMMARY use of virgin plastic in packaging for largely driven by growth in the use of
percentage of post-consumer recycled content
two years in a row — a trend that is set post-consumer recycled content, which by four or more percentage points compared
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS to continue with mandatory reduction has increased by 60% since 201819 to the prior year: ASOS, Carrefour, Coca-Cola
targets The use of post-consumer recycled content in FEMSA, Condé Nast, L'Oréal, L’OCCITANE en
KEY PROGRESS plastic packaging has increased by a substantial provence, LPP, NATURA COSMETICS, Pernod
Brands and retailers in the Global Commitment
METRICS 29% for brand and retail signatories compared to Ricard, Pöppelmann, S Group, Schwarz Group,
have now collectively reduced their virgin plastic
the prior year, with the group now at 8.2%.20 This Serioplast, Stella McCartney, Termoencogibles,
consumption in packaging for the second year in
TOP FMCGS increase for the group as a whole contributed Unilever and Zespri. However, 35% signatories
a row, with a decrease of 1.2% between 2020 and
PERFORMANCE
significantly to the above referenced decrease (41%) did not increase their level of recycled
2019, following a 0.6% decrease between 2018
in the use of virgin plastics in packaging year- content, or saw it decrease compared with the
and 2019. This follows decades of exponential
ABOUT THIS on-year, and represents an acceleration of prior year. Looking at the types of recycled
growth in the industry’s consumption of virgin
REPORT the growth of 23% seen between 2018 and content and packaging that signatories were
plastics, during which the global plastics market
2019, indicating a promising early trajectory working on, there was a continued clear focus
grew from around 2 million metric tonnes in 1950
EXPLORE towards signatories’ combined 2025 target of on PET and HDPE bottle-based applications
to more than 300 million metric tonnes in 2015.16
THE DATA 25% post-consumer recycled content in plastic for many signatories, which was in line with
In 2021, with the objective of steering packaging. If the signatory group is able to these two categories of packaging being widely
INSIGHTS BY signatories’ actions further towards reducing maintain this roughly 30% annual growth rate recycled, and with PET accounting for 53% of
PROGRESS AREA their use of plastic packaging and virgin plastic in future years, they will be on track to meet 2020 output for Recycler signatories.22
in packaging in absolute terms, and thereby their 2025 combined target of 25% (see figure
For producers of non-compostable plastics
ELIMINATION mobilising increased attention, ambition levels 16).21 However, maintaining this growth rate
to become part of the circular economy and
and investment for elimination and reuse, the will increasingly require signatories to address
decouple from the use of finite resources, it is
REUSE Global Commitment introduced a new mandatory incorporation of recycled content into more
crucial that they shift their business model from
target. As a result, it is now a requirement for challenging packaging types, moving beyond the
one based on extraction of finite resources to one
REUSABLE, all brand and retail signatories to set targets to current focus on rigid PET packaging.
RECYCLABLE, OR based on the circulation of materials. So far, just
reduce their total weight of plastic packaging
COMPOSTABLE Looking beyond averages to the progress of seven producers, covering less than 5% of global
and/or virgin plastic in packaging, in absolute
individual brand and retail signatories, progress plastic production, have committed through the
terms, by 2025. As of October 2021, 70% of
REUSE,
RECYCLING eligible signatories had set reduction targets
OR COMPOSTING for virgin plastic in packaging, and 24% set total
IN PRACTICE plastic packaging reduction targets, with the FIGURE 16
remainder of the group committed to set targets Brand and retailer signatories increased significantly their post-consumer recycled
DECOUPLING in the coming months.17 content in plastic packaging for the second year in a row
As a result of these targets, the group is Percentage (weighted average) of post-consumer recycled content in plastic packaging for brand and retail signatories
TRANSPARENCY
expected to reduce its use of virgin plastic in Percentage change between years
packaging by 19% between 2018 and 2025 - a 25%
ENDNOTES significant fall which would mark, for the first 28%
time, a decoupling of business growth from the Annual growth
needed to
APPENDIX consumption of virgin plastic among leading reach the
brand and retail companies. By 2025, combined target
with recycled content targets of plastic and +29%
packaging manufacturer signatories, this would +23% 8.2%
avoid an estimated 8 million tonnes of virgin 6.3%
plastics from being produced each year – keeping 5.2%
40 million barrels of oil in the ground.18 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
target
P
Global Commitment to start making that shift by Some are already reporting progress on these progress by producers of compostable
EXECUTIVE
setting quantitative targets to increase the share targets. This includes Unilever, which has set a plastics towards targets to increase the
of recycled plastics in their total plastics sales target to reduce their total plastic packaging by
SUMMARY proportion of renewable plastics from
by 2025. Some of those who have committed 100,000 metric tonnes by 2025, with a 10,000
have made significant progress in the last year metric tonne reduction delivered in 2020, and responsibly managed sources
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS — notably, Indorama Ventures grew its recycling Apple, which has a target to fully eliminate The overall proportion of renewable content
capacity by 15% and increased its proportion plastic in its packaging by 2025 with 15% reported by signatories decreased by 0.3
KEY PROGRESS of post-consumer recycled content to 6% (an reduction delivered since 2018. percentage points compared to last year, from
METRICS increase of 9% from the prior year). 0.5% to 0.2%, which appears to have been
largely driven by temporary sales shifts for
TOP FMCGS There was little evidence of signatories larger contributors as a result of the COVID-19
PERFORMANCE To accelerate and sustain the reduction increasing renewable content in their pandemic. 15 signatories did however report
in virgin plastic, signatories will need to plastic packaging, with mixed small increases in the percentage of renewable
ABOUT THIS go beyond growing recycled content to content used in their packaging.
REPORT focus on reducing the need for single-
use packaging in the first place
EXPLORE FIGURE 17
THE DATA To achieve a circular economy for plastic, it is
Almost all sectors made promising progress towards their 2025 post-consumer recycled
clear that substantially more effort will need to
INSIGHTS BY go into preventing waste from being created in content targets
PROGRESS AREA the first place. Demand for plastic packaging Average share of post-consumer recycled content in plastic packaging as a % of total plastic packaging weight, by sector
is predicted to double over the coming two
decades, and future scenarios focused on 2019 2020 2025 target
ELIMINATION
collection, recycling and disposal alone have
21.9%
REUSE been shown to fall short, with high ocean leakage Apparel,
and GHG emissions.23 As a result, businesses will 16.4%
footwear and +5.5
REUSABLE, need to move beyond focus on recycled content accessories 21.8%
RECYCLABLE, OR and recyclability, and invest significantly more in 28.8%
COMPOSTABLE elimination and reuse solutions to curb growth in 7.3%
the total amount of packaging that needs to be Beverages +2.1
REUSE, circulated. 9.4%
RECYCLING
OR COMPOSTING
21.9%
Despite a reduction in the use of virgin content 10.3%
IN PRACTICE
in plastic packaging, the total weight of Cosmetics +7.1
plastic packaging reported by brand and retail 17.4%
DECOUPLING 21.4%
signatories increased by 0.5% between 2019 and
2020.24 While it is positive that this is below the 1.9%
TRANSPARENCY
estimated 2.6% growth rate for the global plastic Food +1.4
3.3%
packaging market as a whole, overall reduction
remains crucial to accelerating and sustaining 21.9%
ENDNOTES
reduction in virgin plastic in packaging, and Household & 11.5%
+2.2
APPENDIX ultimately to addressing plastic pollution.25 personal care 13.7%
In recognition of this, 15 brand and retail 21.9%
signatories (24%) have gone beyond setting 13.3%
Retail +0.5
virgin plastic reduction targets incorporating 13.8%
efforts on elimination and reuse to also — or 24.2%
exclusively — set targets to reduce their overall
Packaging 7.9%
use of plastic packaging in absolute terms.
manufacturing
+1.1
9%
P
Three compostable plastic producer signatories By 2025, 33% (6) are planning to have such
EXECUTIVE
reported on their work to increase the proportion a target in place to stimulate the demand for
SUMMARY of renewable content from responsibly managed recycled plastics. For example:
sources in their plastics. NatureWorks was the
PERSPECTIVE only one of the three to report progress on • The government of Chile has set an
ON PROGRESS increasing their proportion from the previous obligation to incorporate 25% of recycled
year, having increased the share of their farms content in single-use plastic bottles in 2025.
certified as being responsibly-managed by ISCC In 2019, an estimated 8.5% of recycled plastic
KEY PROGRESS
METRICS Plus for the second year running, reaching 71% was used in the national production of plastic
in 2020 (compared to 64% in 2019, and 46% packaging.
TOP FMCGS in 2018). Novamont’s proportion of renewable
PERFORMANCE content from responsibly managed sources • The United Kingdom is due to introduce a
remained stable, but the company reported new tax on plastic packaging that contains
having undertaken research into incorporating less than 30% recycled content, applying to
ABOUT THIS
REPORT new feedstock sources into their plastics, businesses producing or importing plastic
including partnering with an Italian apple packaging, from April 2022. In addition,
producer to use apple waste to create renewable the UK Plastic Pact, supported by the
EXPLORE
THE DATA components of bio-based plastics. government, aims to reach 30% of recycled
content in all plastic packaging for its
members by 2025.
INSIGHTS BY
PROGRESS AREA A number of governments in Europe are
reinforcing the trend among businesses • In the Netherlands, the Plastics Pact NL set
a target of at least 35% recycled content in
ELIMINATION on setting reduction targets, delivering new products and packaging by 2025.
these through their support for Plastic
REUSE Pacts in their jurisdiction • In Peru, the government has signed the Clean
Production Agreement with a number of
REUSABLE, In 2019, as part of the Plastics Pact Netherlands, businesses voluntarily committing to ensure
RECYCLABLE, OR the Government of the Netherlands together that 100% of food contact plastic packaging
COMPOSTABLE with 110 local businesses set a target to use 20% incorporates a minimum of 50% recycled
less plastics by 2025. As part of the European content.
REUSE, Plastics Pact, 15 national governments (including
RECYCLING
Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) have signed up Aligned with these targets, governments
OR COMPOSTING
IN PRACTICE to reduce virgin plastic products and packaging are starting to report progress against them,
by at least 20% (by weight) by 2025, with half sometimes quantitatively. For example, in
DECOUPLING
of that reduction coming from an absolute France, the signatories of the national Plastic
reduction of plastics. Pact reported an average percentage of 15% of
TRANSPARENCY recycled content in plastic packaging in 2020
In addition, an increasing number of governments compared to 11% in 2019. The Netherlands
are setting or revising minimum thresholds and Portugal, also reported working on the
ENDNOTES or targets to achieve a certain percentage of implementation of the European Union directive
recycled content in plastic packaging.In 2019, on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic
APPENDIX only one government reported having such a products on the environment, which sets a
measure in place while three (18%) had it in place minimum of 25% of recycled content in PET
in 2020. bottles by 2025.
P
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
6 TRANSPARENCY
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS
WHY TRANSPARENCY?
Promoting transparency on signatories’ commitments, as well as the actions they take
KEY PROGRESS and their progress towards achieving them, sits at the heart of the Global Commitment.
METRICS
This is achieved not just through the public disclosure of targets — both qualitative
TOP FMCGS and quantitative — and progress towards them, but also through providing common
PERFORMANCE definitions and clear and consistent presentations of data.
ABOUT THIS
KEY INSIGHTS
REPORT
EXPLORE The vast majority of business signatories are now voluntarily disclosing their total
THE DATA
plastic packaging weight and portfolio breakdown – representing a step forward in
INSIGHTS BY transparency for this group since the launch of the Global Commitment
PROGRESS AREA
Government signatories have also taken steps towards increasing transparency

ELIMINATION
on use and after use of plastics in their jurisdictions
REUSE
REUSABLE,
RECYCLABLE, OR
COMPOSTABLE
REUSE,
RECYCLING
OR COMPOSTING
IN PRACTICE
DECOUPLING
TRANSPARENCY
ENDNOTES
APPENDIX
P
The vast majority of business signatories to publish appeared to be driven by ongoing Government signatories have also taken
EXECUTIVE are now voluntarily disclosing their total uncertainties around data quality, while in others it steps towards increasing transparency
was a result of not being comfortable having the
SUMMARY plastic packaging weight and portfolio on use and after use of plastics in their
information in the public domain.
breakdown — representing a step forward jurisdictions
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS in transparency for this group since the This year, around 80% of brands and retailers 25% of government signatories have already set
launch of the Global Commitment also provided details of which categories of quantitative targets linked to their overarching
plastic packaging they have in their portfolio and commitments against which they have committed
KEY PROGRESS 2021 saw a further increase in the number of
METRICS a breakdown by weight, up from 65% in 2020. to report in future years, with the rest of the
signatories publicly disclosing the total weight of The public data provided by these signatories
plastic packaging used or processed annually, with group due to do so by the next reporting process.
TOP FMCGS offers valuable information on the types of Governments most commonly set and track
26 doing so for the first time.26 The proportion of packaging being used today, helping to shed
PERFORMANCE against targets on collection, sorting, reuse
brand and retail signatories publicly disclosing light on the nature of the challenge of — and
their total weight increased from just 49% in 2020 and recycling rates of plastics —in 2020, 39%
ABOUT THIS
potential solutions for — moving towards a circular of reporting government signatories tracked
to 75% in 2021 (see figure 18).27 Those publicly economy for plastics.
REPORT quantitative information and 33% had already set
disclosing weight in 2021 represent over 90% of
the total weight of plastic packaging reported by 2025 target(s) on plastic packaging/products
Business signatories have also continued to
EXPLORE all brands and retailers in the Global Commitment. collection, sorting, recycling and/or composting
work to improve quality and internal visibility on
THE DATA rates. However, they remain a minority and
their own data (for example, on how much and
Levels of transparency varied between sectors, governmental data on the fate of plastics after
what types of plastic packaging they are using,
INSIGHTS BY with the Apparel sector well behind others, with use are still lacking. In addition, only a few
PROGRESS AREA
and for what applications) to support planning,
just 33% of signatories publicly disclosing total governments tracked quantitative progress/
measurement, and decision-making. However,
weight, and Packaging Producers and Retailers information on elimination of problematic/
there remains scope for improvement on external
ELIMINATION also behind other sectors with only 39% and unnecessary plastic packaging (28%) and on the
verification — just 34% of signatories indicated
63% disclosing respectively (see figure 18). On use of recycled content in plastic packaging/
having third-party verification in place for some
REUSE the other hand, 100% of signatories within the products (11%).
or all data in 2021, the same proportion as last
Beverage and Cosmetics sectors opted to publish year, with just 15% indicating plans to introduce or
REUSABLE, their total weights. In some cases, reluctance expand this going forward.
RECYCLABLE, OR
COMPOSTABLE
REUSE, FIGURE 18 FIGURE 19

RECYCLING
OR COMPOSTING Most brands, retailers and packaging producers are now publicly … as well as their plastic packaging
IN PRACTICE disclosing their plastic packaging weight... portfolio breakdown
Percentage of brand, retailer and plastic packaging producer Percentage of brand, retail and packaging producer
DECOUPLING signatories disclosing their plastic packaging weight signatories disclosing their plastic packaging portfolio
breakdown
TRANSPARENCY 2019 2020
2019 2020
Apparel,
footwear & 33%
ENDNOTES accessories 81% 78%
74% Beverages 100% 68% 65%
APPENDIX
Cosmetics 100%
49%
39% Food 86%
35%
Household &
personal care 82%
Retail 63%
Packaging Packaged goods Packaging Packaged goods
producers companies & retailers producers companies & retailers
P
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
ENDNOTES
PERSPECTIVE 1 Source: Geyer, R., Jambeck, J. R., & Law, K. L. (2017). 8 The increase reported here refers to that seen for 15 The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Plastics Pact
ON PROGRESS Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made. signatories reporting in both the last two years (i.e. Network is a globally aligned response to plastic
Science Advances new examples from signatories reporting for the first waste and pollution, which enables vital knowledge
KEY PROGRESS time in 2021 are not counted as part of the increase). sharing and coordinated action. It is a network of
METRICS 2 Producing 1 tonne of recycled plastic saves five barrels national and regional (multi-country) initiatives
of petroleum. Source: Suez, https://www.suez.com/ 9 A signatory is considered to be ‘targeting’ a given which brings together key stakeholders to implement
TOP FMCGS en/our-offering/businesses/whatare-you-looking-for/ packaging category if they reported an example of solutions towards a circular economy for plastic,
PERFORMANCE resources-management-consulting/introduce-more- elimination or reduction achieved in the reporting tailored to each geography. Read more about it here.
recycled-plasticsinto-your-production period and/or if they indicated plans to reduce or
eliminate the category in future. 16 Source: Geyer, R., Jambeck, J. R., & Law, K. L. (2017).
ABOUT THIS 3 Extrapolation based on historical total market growth Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made.
REPORT (sources: Geyer et al., 2017’; Wood MacKenzie, 2021) 10 The increase reported here refers to that seen for Science Advances.
signatories reporting in both of the last two years (i.e.
EXPLORE 4 Business signatories with annual plastic (packaging) new examples from signatories reporting for the first 17 Some signatories have set dual targets – both a virgin
THE DATA volumes in excess of 10,000 metric tonnes or revenues time in 2021 are not counted as part of the increase). reduction target and a total reduction target, while
in excess of USD 500 million were eligible to report eight signatories remain in the process of setting
through the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in the 2021 11 Individual percentages for reusable, recyclable, these targets but have committed to do so by a
INSIGHTS BY reporting cycle. These businesses represent more compostable, and ‘not reusable, recyclable, or specific date - in almost all cases these signatories
PROGRESS AREA than 99% of plastic packaging weight covered by the compostable’ will not sum to 100% for all individual have been given more time to set a target as a
full Global Commitment signatory group. Signatories signatories or the group as a whole as a large result of having joined the Global Commitment more
ELIMINATION below both thresholds were asked to report progress proportion of reusable packaging is also recyclable. recently.
publicly through their own channels.
12 The threshold to prove recycling works ‘in practice and 18 Producing 1 tonne of recycled plastic saves five barrels
REUSE
5 Progress reports from business signatories at scale’ and thereby meet the Global Commitment of petroleum. Source: Suez, https://www.suez.com/
CarbonLITE Recycling and Huidu environmental definition of ‘recyclable’ is a 30% recycling rate en/our-offering/businesses/whatare-you-looking-for/
REUSABLE, protection technology (Shanghai) co., LTD, and from achieved across multiple regions, collectively resources-management-consulting/introduce-more-
RECYCLABLE, OR government signatories the Walloon Government representing at least 400 million inhabitants. The full recycled-plasticsinto-your-production
COMPOSTABLE and Republic of Seychelles Ministry of Environment, results of the 2021 New Plastics Economy Recycling
Energy and Climate Change were not received at the Rate Survey can be accessed here. 19 The increase reported here refers to that seen for
REUSE, time of completion of the 2020 reporting cycle. signatories reporting in all three years since 2018.
RECYCLING 13 The increase reported here refers to that seen for
OR COMPOSTING 6 The percentage increase reported here refers to that signatories reporting in both of the last two years (i.e. 20 The increase reported here is based on 2019 and
IN PRACTICE seen for signatories reporting in both of the last two new examples from signatories reporting for the first 2020 percentages of recycled content for brands and
years (i.e. new examples from signatories reporting time in 2021 are not counted as part of the increase). retailers, the growth due to new signatories reporting
DECOUPLING for the first time in 2021 are not counted as part of the The growth in total recycling output from Global for the first time in 2021 was negligible.
increase). Commitment Recycler signatories between 2002 and
2019 was 20%, of which 12% was due to growth for 21 The increase reported here is based on 2018 and
TRANSPARENCY
7 According to the definition of recyclability used in the signatories reporting in 2020 and 2021 and 8% due to 2019 percentages of recycled content for brands and
Global Commitment – more information is provided on the onboarding of new signatories the past year. retailers, the growth due to new signatories reporting
this in Chapter 3. for the first time in 2020 was negligible.
ENDNOTES
14 Signatories sharing data on the share of their
recycling output by polymer with the Ellen MacArthur
APPENDIX Foundation accounted for 77% of total output from
Recycler signatories.
P
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
ENDNOTES
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS 22 Signatories sharing data on the share of their 25 Source of market growth rate for plastic packaging:
recycling output by polymer with the Ellen MacArthur Wood MacKenzie.
Foundation accounted for 77% of total output from
KEY PROGRESS Recycler signatories. 26 This includes 10 new signatories reporting progress for
METRICS the first time and 16 existing signatories that disclosed
23 Based on the findings of the Breaking the Plastics publicly having not done so previously.
TOP FMCGS Wave study, published in 2020 by The PEW Charitable
PERFORMANCE Trusts and SYSTEMIQ, with the Ellen MacArthur 27 The increase reported here refers to that seen for
Foundation as Thought Partner. signatories reporting in both of the last two years (i.e.
new examples from signatories reporting for the first
ABOUT THIS
24 This calculation refers to growth for signatories time in 2021 are not counted as part of the increase).
REPORT
reporting in both of the last two years but excludes Including signatories reporting for the first time in
data from Nestlé, which reported a substantial year- 2021, the total proportion publicly disclosing weight in
EXPLORE on-year reduction which was significantly driven 2021 was 74%.
THE DATA by divestments from their business which reduced
packaging volumes. Updated numbers will be
provided by this signatory in the 2022 reporting cycle
INSIGHTS BY
PROGRESS AREA to enable their data to be re-incorporated into these
calculations.
ELIMINATION
REUSE
REUSABLE,
RECYCLABLE, OR
COMPOSTABLE
REUSE,
RECYCLING
OR COMPOSTING
IN PRACTICE
DECOUPLING
TRANSPARENCY
ENDNOTES
APPENDIX
P
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
APPENDIX
FIGURE 20 FIGURE 21
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS Breakdown of plastic packaging reported Breakdown of global plastic packaging market
by Global Commitment signatories Percentage of total global plastic packaging market (weight)
KEY PROGRESS
METRICS Percentage of total plastic packaging (weight) reported by brand and retail signatories Recyclable Non-recyclable
Recyclable Non-recyclable
TOP FMCGS
PERFORMANCE 0.4%
Plastic packaging weight
for the whole market
29%
Recyclable
Other rigid in metric tonnes
ABOUT THIS 2% 1% 130m 134m 71%

REPORT Thermoforms >A4 flexibles in B2C context 2019 2020 Non-recyclable
3%
EXPLORE A4 flexibles
THE DATA 53%
0.6% 4%
Bottle
Tubes >A4 flexibles in B2B context

INSIGHTS BY
PROGRESS AREA 3% 1%
Other rigid
3% 26%
xx%
<A4 flexibles
Other rigids
ELIMINATION
0.6%
Other <A4
REUSE mono-material
flexibles
19%
xx%
REUSABLE,
RECYCLABLE, OR 0.7%
17%
COMPOSTABLE Other >A4 2%
xx%
flexibles
Bottle
Bottle
1%
REUSE, Bottle
RECYCLING 7%
OR COMPOSTING Multi-material 1%
xx%
<A4 flexibles Bottle
IN PRACTICE
10%
8%
Other
xx%
8%
rigid
Otherxx%
DECOUPLING
Other rigids
7%
rigids
6%
Bottle
5%
rigid
TRANSPARENCY
Other
2% 4%
Other
2%
rigid
Bottles
xx%
0.5% 0.2% 1%
ENDNOTES
PET PE PP PS EPS PVC PE PP Films Others PET PE PP PS PVC EPS PE PP Films
APPENDIX
RIGID FLEXIBLE OTHER RIGID FLEXIBLE
Notes: Recyclability is assessed according to the Global Commitment definition - which requires that recycling is proven Notes: Source of plastic packaging weight data: Wood MacKenzie. Recyclability is assessed
to work ‘in practice and at scale’ - and using the suggested thresholds and outputs of the 2021 New Plastics Economy according to the Global Commitment definition - which requires that recycling is proven
Recycling Rate Survey. For more information see chapter 3 (“Reusable, recyclable or compostable”). to work ‘in practice and at scale’ - and using the suggested thresholds and outputs of the
Percentages exclude 8 signatories who did not report their portfolio breakdown to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. 2021 New Plastics Economy Recycling Rate Survey. For more information see see chapter 3
The aggregate percentage recyclable in this figure differs from Figure 2 (64% recyclable) because (1) it includes the 7% (“Reusable, recyclable or compostable”).
for which a system for recycling exists but the actual packaging design makes the packaging unfit for the system, as
this analysis only looks at packaging type, not at detailed packaging design (2) It excludes 3-4% which is not recyclable
according to our assessment, but which was reported as recyclable by companies who choose to deviate from our
assessment methodology.
P
THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2021 | ENDNOTES | 39
DISCLAIMER
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
PERSPECTIVE
All information
ON PROGRESS on signatories’ progress in this report and in the individual signatories’ reports has
been provided by the relevant signatories and has not been audited or verified by the Ellen MacArthur
Foundation (Foundation) or UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Each signatory is responsible for the
KEY PROGRESS
METRICSinformation it submitted. All visualisations accompanying individual progress reports have been produced
by the Foundation.
TOP FMCGS
The Foundation
PERFORMANCE and UNEP have exercised care in the preparation of this report. However, all individual
signatories’ reports are made available by the Foundation and UNEP on an ‘as is’ basis and the Foundation
and UNEP give no warranties as to their quality, accuracy, completeness, or fitness for any purpose. The
ABOUT THIS
REPORT Foundation and UNEP shall not be liable (whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of
statutory duty, or otherwise) to any party in connection with the content or use of these reports.
EXPLORE
The Foundation and UNEP do not warrant that all information submitted by individual signatories is
THE DATA
contained or represented in this report and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, they may: (i)
have excluded data which they believe to be inaccurate; (ii) have excluded from year-on-year calculations
INSIGHTS BY
data from signatories which have not reported data in both years; and (iii) have normalised information
PROGRESS AREA
to produce the aggregated and averaged statistics featured in this report. Further, if a signatory has
not reported by the relevant deadline(s), its data will not be included in this report and it will not be the
ELIMINATION
subject of an individual report.
REUSE If you are a signatory and you believe there has been an error in the reproduction of the information
provided to us by your organisation, please contact us as soon as possible at
REUSABLE,
reportingGC@ellenmacarthurfoundation.org, or your contact at UNEP.
RECYCLABLE, OR
COMPOSTABLE
REUSE,
RECYCLING
OR COMPOSTING
IN PRACTICE
DECOUPLING
TRANSPARENCY
ENDNOTES
APPENDIX
© COPYRIGHT 2021
ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDATION
www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org
Charity Registration No.: 1130306
OSCR Registration No.: SC043120
Company No.: 6897785

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​ lease note that all information related to this report is under embargo until

This report has been compiled by the Ellen MacArthur

• Overall insights (this document)

• Individual signatory progress

Key progress metrics 7

EXPLORE Top FMCGs performance 9

INSIGHTS BY About this report 11

REUSABLE, Insights by progress area 13

Appendix: breakdown of plastic packaging

02 The pace of progress on post-consumer

1.0m 1.2m 1.5m 76% 24%

04 Despite growth in the number of reuse

Progress on plastic packaging by top FMCG companies since 2018 (1)

EXPLORE Procter & Gamble Not a Global Commitment Signatory

ELIMINATION AB InBev Not a Global Commitment Signatory

REUSE 25% 100%

Henkel 30% 100%

ELIMINATION They have all been asked to report against a

The sector insights will be published on the 16th

LOOKING FOR RESOURCES

Efforts involving more fundamental changes to packaging, product or business models

Source: L’Occitane en Provence

Momentum on elimination appears FIGURE 6

On materials, there was heavy focus on the FIGURE 7

roll out of the ban on plastic bags in retail in

straws, drink stirrers and cutlery as well as

DECOUPLING Moving beyond the delivery of awareness-raising and education campaigns, an

Source: Schwarz Group

REUSE products and markets in Western Europe 2019 2020

Moving beyond the delivery of to achieve 100% reusable cups or packaging

REUSE KEY INSIGHTS

How are recyclability and compostability assessed in the Global Commitment?

Governments have focused primarily incorporating recyclability criteria for

ENDNOTES • Several local and national governments

REUSE KEY INSIGHTS

Source: INCOM RECYCLE Co., Ltd. Beijing

Recycled plastics from recyclers Recycled plastics from resin producers

Provision of reliable packaging and/or product information to consumers 17% 22%

Government signatories have also taken steps towards increasing transparency

REUSE, FIGURE 18 FIGURE 19

ABOUT THIS 2% 1% 130m 134m 71%

Tubes >A4 flexibles in B2B context

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lease note that all information related to this report is under embargo until