Major firms sign up to UK pact in new war on plastic packaging

Dozens of companies have signed up to efforts to eliminate unnecessary single-use plastic packaging by 2025, it has been announced.

Under the “UK Plastics Pact”, the businesses have also agreed targets to make 100% of their plastic packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable and to ensure 70% is effectively recycled or composted.

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

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

Waste reduction body Wrap, which is leading the UK Plastics Pact, said the businesses involved are responsible for more than 80% of the plastic packaging on products sold through British supermarkets.

In addition, 15 other organisations, including the British Retail Consortium and the Food and Drink Federation, have signed up to the targets.

They will aim to eliminate problematic or unnecessary single-use plastic packaging through redesign, innovation or through delivering products in reusable containers by 2025.

The pact is the first of its kind in the world, and will be replicated in other countries as part of the Ellen Macarthur Foundation’s “new plastics economy” initiative, Wrap said.

The move was welcomed by Environment Secretary Michael Gove, who said: “Our ambition to eliminate avoidable plastic waste will only be realised if government, businesses and the public work together.”

Plastic pollution is one of the top environmental issues.