THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2024 PROGRESS REPORT 1

TITLE This report has been compiled by the Ellen MacArthur

Foundation, with input from the UN Environment Programme
in relation to the government signatories.
INTRODUCTION

SPOTLIGHT

The Global
ON IMPACT

PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS

AMBITION
DRIVES ACTION

Commitment
KEY PROGRESS
METRICS

TOP FMCG
2024
PERFORMANCE

2024
GOVERNMENT
PROGRESS Progress 2023
COLLECTIVE
EFFORTS ON
Report
PIVOTAL HURDLES

ABOUT
2022
THIS REPORT

TRANSPARENCY

EXPLORE
2021
THE DATA

APPENDIX

ENDNOTES

2020

2019
CONTENTS
Introduction 3

Spotlight on impact 4

Perspective on progress 5

Ambition drives action 8

Key progress metrics 10

Top FMCG performance 15

Government progress 17

Collective efforts on pivotal hurdles 18

About this report 23

Transparency 24

Explore the data 25

Appendix 26

Endnotes 28
 THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2024 PROGRESS REPORT 3

INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION

SPOTLIGHT
ON IMPACT Over 1,000 organisations from across the world, including businesses representing 20% of all plastic
packaging produced globally and over 50 government signatories, have mobilised behind the Global
PERSPECTIVE Commitment’s common vision of a circular economy for plastic, in which it never becomes waste.
ON PROGRESS
Signatories set ambitious 2025 targets to help realise that common vision. This sixth annual progress
report looks at how the signatories are faring against these targets and key lessons learned along the way.
AMBITION Three major insights emerge:
DRIVES ACTION

KEY PROGRESS
METRICS

TOP FMCG
PERFORMANCE

1 2 3
GOVERNMENT
PROGRESS

COLLECTIVE
EFFORTS ON
PIVOTAL HURDLES

ABOUT
THIS REPORT

TRANSPARENCY The collective ambition of The job is far from done. The road ahead is clear:
the Global Commitment Plastic pollution is still binding global policy and
EXPLORE
THE DATA signatories has driven growing and demands accelerated business
substantial progress. bold action. action are both essential
APPENDIX
to get the job done.
ENDNOTES
 THE
THE GLOBAL
GLOBAL COMMITMENT
COMMITMENT2024
2024PROGRESS
PROGRESSREPORT
REPORT 44

TITLE
SPOTLIGHT ON IMPACT:
INTRODUCTION
GLOBAL COMMITMENT SIGNATORIES HAVE
SPOTLIGHT
ON IMPACT
SHOWN PROGRESS IS POSSIBLE
PERSPECTIVE Thanks to their efforts as part of the Global Commitment, business
ON PROGRESS signatories have had substantial, collective material and climate impact, by:
AMBITION
DRIVES ACTION

Keeping Avoiding
KEY PROGRESS
METRICS

1 barrel 9.6
TOP FMCG
PERFORMANCE

GOVERNMENT
PROGRESS

COLLECTIVE
EFFORTS ON of oil in the million tonnes
PIVOTAL HURDLES

ABOUT
ground every of virgin plastic
since 2018, equivalent
2 seconds
THIS REPORT

TRANSPARENCY
to 1 trillion* single-use
EXPLORE Avoiding plastic bags

3.4
THE DATA

APPENDIX

ENDNOTES

million tonnes
of CO2 per year,
equivalent to eliminating
the carbon emissions of a
city of 750,000 people

*Calculation based on a plastic bag weighing 8 g

 THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2024 PROGRESS REPORT 5

PERSPECTIVE ON PROGRESS
INTRODUCTION
In this section, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and UNEP offer a perspective on the progress seen over the reporting period.

SPOTLIGHT
ON IMPACT

PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS
1 The collective ambition of the Global Commitment
signatories has driven substantial progress.
Over the six years since the Global Commitment tonnes of virgin plastics production in 2023 • The Global Commitment is the largest-scale
launched, signatories have significantly — equivalent to more than the UK’s annual initiative of its kind. Businesses representing
AMBITION outperformed their peers in tackling plastic plastic packaging use. The total cumulative around 20% of all plastic packaging produced
DRIVES ACTION
waste. This shows that substantial change is impact since 2018 is 9.6 million tonnes of globally have signed up and have now been
possible and that businesses who haven’t signed virgin plastics production avoided compared reporting annually for six years. Over that
KEY PROGRESS up can do, on average, much more than they to business as usual. time, signatories’ data systems have continued
METRICS
are doing today. to improve and as signatories’ data quality
• The Global Commitment business signatories
gets better, reporting accuracy continues
TOP FMCG • Business signatories have outperformed the have collectively had a substantial impact
to improve.
PERFORMANCE market in all key progress metrics where on fossil fuel consumption and climate. The
comparable data exist, for example: increase in recycled content alone keeps one • The reach of the Global Commitment goes far
GOVERNMENT barrel of oil in the ground every two seconds, beyond its signatories, with its metrics and
PROGRESS ° Brand and retail signatories have reduced or more than 23 million barrels of oil a year.5 definitions being deployed, for example, to
their virgin plastics use by 3% since 2018,1,2 It also avoids 3.4 million tonnes of CO2 per thousands of organisations in CDP’s plastic
COLLECTIVE while the plastic packaging market as a year — equivalent to eliminating the carbon packaging disclosure. The Global Commitment
EFFORTS ON whole has increased virgin plastic use by emissions of a city of nearly 750,000 people.6 also laid key foundations for the Business
PIVOTAL HURDLES 8% over that same time period.3 Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty and
• Government signatories have also driven
13 national and regional Plastics Pacts are
ABOUT ° Signatories have significantly reduced their progress by introducing mandatory targets,
working towards the same vision and
THIS REPORT use of some packaging items and materials such as those intended to stimulate
commonly identified as problematic or aligned targets.
the demand for recycled plastics, and
TRANSPARENCY unnecessary. Since 2020, the top quartile implementing bans on problematic items.
of brand and retail signatories have This year’s data7 shows continued progress
They have also increased the volumes of
completely eliminated their use of polyvinyl by signatories on virgin plastic production,
EXPLORE plastic collected, sorted, and recycled by
THE DATA chloride (PVC) and expanded polystyrene PCR content, and recyclability.
investing in infrastructure, by promoting
(EPS)/extruded polystyrene (XPS) in collection, sorting, and reuse and/or recycling • Signatories decreased their total and virgin
APPENDIX business-to-consumer packaging for schemes (e.g. deposit return schemes), and plastic packaging weight, with the virgin
FMCGs,4 compared with a global market 6% by establishing or revising Extended Producer
ENDNOTES weight decrease being the greatest yearly
increase and 4% reduction respectively. Responsibility (EPR) schemes. reduction since 2018.
° Brand and retail signatories almost tripled • For the sixth consecutive year, signatories
the share of post-consumer recycled The Global Commitment has provided
unprecedented transparency on plastic usage continued to increase their use of PCR
(PCR) content in their plastic packaging,
and progress towards targets. content.
increasing it by 9 percentage points to 14%
in 2023, compared to a 1 percentage point • Between 2022 and 2023, signatories’
• The Global Commitment’s framework has
increase for the market as a whole. recyclability in practice and at scale went
provided standardised metrics and definitions
up 4 percentage points, mostly because
• Global Commitment business signatories’ across the plastic packaging industry, as well
the packaging category ‘PP other rigids’
strong collective growth in recycled plastics as formalised annual reporting. These have
(pots, tubes, cups, etc.) is now recognised as
use, by nearly 2 million tonnes per annum, enabled both greater progress on effective
recyclable.8 There is sufficient evidence that
combined with keeping the overall growth solutions and a fuller understanding of the
recycling rates have grown for this packaging
in plastic packaging use below market hurdles to scaling those solutions.
type in multiple regions.
average, has resulted in avoiding 3.2 million
 THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2024 PROGRESS REPORT 6

INTRODUCTION

SPOTLIGHT
ON IMPACT

PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS
2 The job is far from done. Plastic pollution
is still growing and demands bold action.
With a large part of the plastic packaging Data and learnings from the last six years show • Alongside business action, strong policy
industry not yet taking action, and signatories where more collective action is needed. measures will be crucial to tackling these
AMBITION likely to miss key 2025 targets, the world is off three key hurdles.
DRIVES ACTION • The transparency and structure the Global
track to eliminate plastic waste and pollution.
Commitment created points to three main, Reuse – Policies such as timebound,
KEY PROGRESS • There are now more single-use plastics than pivotal hurdles standing in the way of further sectorial reuse targets; harmonised
METRICS ever before. The vast majority of plastic progress: (1) scaling reuse, (2) flexible plastic reuse definitions, metrics, and standards;
is fossil-fuel derived, and greenhouse gas packaging in high-leakage countries, and measures to facilitate the development
TOP FMCG emissions from plastic production are (3) lack of infrastructure to collect and of shared infrastructure; and economic
PERFORMANCE expected to more than double by 2060.9 circulate packaging. measures that incentivise reuse (e.g. EPR,
taxes, subsidies) can play a major role in
GOVERNMENT • Currently, 80% of the global plastic packaging • A combination of bold business and mobilising this transition.
PROGRESS market is not covered by the Global government action will be needed to
Commitment and performing, on average, much overcome these hurdles. Flexible packaging – The lack of alignment
COLLECTIVE worse than the 20% which are participating. on which of the potential solutions —
• Businesses can drive progress on
EFFORTS ON alternative delivery models, material
PIVOTAL HURDLES • Just as it is important to acknowledge the overcoming each hurdle:
substitution, recycling — will be accepted
progress made in the Global Commitment, it is
Reuse – Businesses should scale refill across the industry and in policy, is a key
ABOUT important to acknowledge that its signatories
solutions and concentrate products, hurdle for making the major investments
THIS REPORT will not realise all of their ambitions by 2025.
collaborate at scale on return models, and these solutions require. Policymakers
• Achieving 100% reusable, recyclable, or advocate for reuse policy in the key markets can provide direction and supporting
TRANSPARENCY conditions. They can clarify what outcomes
compostable plastic packaging has proved in which they operate;
particularly challenging, requiring the most will be incentivised and how the enabling
EXPLORE Flexible packaging – Businesses should systems for those solutions will be
collaboration across the value chain.
THE DATA
continue exploring alternative solutions for developed together with industry.
• While a third of signatories are already on track flexible plastic packaging in high-leakage
APPENDIX to achieve their virgin plastic reduction target, Infrastructure – EPR remains a particularly
markets where feasible, innovate where
accelerating virgin plastic reduction for the whole viable alternative solutions do not yet high-priority policy measure around the
ENDNOTES group will require complementing a continued exist, and partner with governments and world. It is crucial for EPR schemes to be
increase in PCR content with an extensive other stakeholders to ensure the flexible well-designed and inclusive. Governments
reduction in total plastic packaging use. packaging that is still used is collected can also implement measures to incentivise
and circulated; or mandate better design (including
• Some companies have already adjusted
reduction, reuse, and recycling); measures to
their targets based on actual progress, such
Infrastructure – Businesses should support mobilise financing and investments in waste
as extending the ambition to reach 100%
and accelerate infrastructure improvements management infrastructure; and set targets
recyclable to 2030 instead of 2025, reflecting
by, for example, actively advocating for and standards for the collection, sorting,
the difficulties in tackling key hurdles.
well-designed, mandatory, and fee-based reuse, and recycling of all packaging.
This report reflects the 2025 targets that
EPR schemes, and do so consistently across
businesses signed up to as part of the Global
geographies, including at the international
Commitment. The key hurdles are discussed in
level through the Business Coalition for a
the following section.
Global Plastics Treaty.
 THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2024 PROGRESS REPORT 7

INTRODUCTION

SPOTLIGHT
ON IMPACT

PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS
3 The road ahead is clear: binding global policy and accelerated
business action are both essential to get the job done.
Global policy is necessary: with 80% of the The fastest way forward is through an ‘ambition
global plastic packaging market not covered loop’ in which government policy and business
AMBITION by the Global Commitment and performing, action mutually reinforce each other.
DRIVES ACTION
on average, much worse than the 20% who are
participating, global policy is crucial to move • Regulation will not solve everything, given
KEY PROGRESS
METRICS
100% of the market towards solutions. the highly complex nature of plastic and
packaging waste. Voluntary business
20%
• Over the past six years, Global Commitment action will continue to play a crucial role in Global Commitment
TOP FMCG business signatories have made real progress, innovating, showing what’s possible, and Signatories
PERFORMANCE despite not meeting all the targets. If the creating demand for solutions. Waiting for
entire plastic packaging market had followed regulation cannot be an excuse for inaction —
GOVERNMENT the example of the signatory group with and companies leading the way will reap the
PROGRESS
regards to virgin plastic reduction, virgin rewards. Equally, businesses can play an active
plastic production would be 10%,10 or 35 role in advocating for regulation that will
COLLECTIVE million tonnes, lower than it is today. enable change.
EFFORTS ON
PIVOTAL HURDLES • Global policy can create conditions to help • We have learnt from the last six years that a
the leading 20% overcome the key hurdles to concerted effort like the Global Commitment
ABOUT meeting their targets while simultaneously can help catalyse the ambition loop needed to
THIS REPORT
moving towards industry-wide participation, tackle plastic waste and pollution. 80%
allowing proven solutions to scale much faster. Rest of
TRANSPARENCY • Looking ahead, the Global Commitment will
packaging market
The international, legally binding instrument continue to serve as a key force in driving
EXPLORE on plastic pollution currently being negotiated voluntary action and openly sharing both
THE DATA presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to successes and obstacles with the world
address plastic pollution at a global level. to inform and complement the global policy.
APPENDIX
• By putting in place global rules and measures,
ENDNOTES the international, legally binding instrument
can ensure that all countries act in concert to
unlock circular economy solutions and tackle
plastic waste and pollution.
• Scaling reuse, tackling flexible plastic packaging
waste, and establishing infrastructure require
a globally coordinated approach to create the
system and market conditions for value chain
cooperation, infrastructure harmonisation,
and economic viability.
 THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2024 PROGRESS REPORT 8

AMBITION DRIVES ACTION

INTRODUCTION The latest data reinforces the knowledge that setting ambitious targets can drive accelerated action. Figure 1 shows signatory
companies working towards robust goals have outperformed the rest of the market. Figure 2 shows the same holds true in the US Food
and Beverage sector, with Global Commitment signatories achieving greater progress in reduction and recycling than non-signatories.
SPOTLIGHT
ON IMPACT
FIGURE 1
PERSPECTIVE Global Commitment business signatories, and particularly the top quartile, have outperformed the market
ON PROGRESS
across nearly all target areas where comparable data exists, even if not all targets will be met
AMBITION
DRIVES ACTION 2023 2025

Target areas Global Global Top quartile Global

KEY PROGRESS Market 1 Global Commitment
(brands and retailers) Commitment Commitment
METRICS
signatories 2 signatories 2,3 target 10

TOP FMCG

+8% -3% -27% -18%

PERFORMANCE Virgin plastic use
(% change by weight vs 2018)
GOVERNMENT
PROGRESS Items commonly identified as problematic
and unnecessary 4 (% change by weight vs 2020)
COLLECTIVE
EFFORTS ON
PIVOTAL HURDLES
> EPS/XPS 5, 6
(B2C packaging for FMCG)
-4% -29% -100% -100%
ABOUT
THIS REPORT
> PVC6
+6% -1% -100% -100%
TRANSPARENCY Reuse
(change vs 2018) Roughly flat Roughly flat Minor increase Increase
EXPLORE
THE DATA

n/a +7pp +23pp +37pp

Reusable, Recyclable, or Compostable 7 8
APPENDIX
(percentage point change vs 2018)
ENDNOTES
(to 100%)

Post-consumer recycled content

(percentage point change vs 2018) +1pp +9pp +21pp +21pp
(to 26%)

+16% +74% +136% +290%

Production of recycled plastics 9
(in % increase vs 2018)

1 Source: WoodMacKenzie market data 5 This category includes EPS and XPS such as for takeaway and retail food 8 The Global Commitment developed its own definition of ‘recyclability’,
packaging as well as packaging peanuts. EPS for transport packaging has been demanding ‘recyclability in practice and at scale’. Therefore no comparable
2 Based on the weighted average of Global Commitment Brand and Retail
excluded from this analysis. market data is available. While there are indications the signatory group might be
signatories reporting all years of analysis
outperforming the market (e.g. signatories’ substantial investments in technical
6 Numbers evolved with those published in 2023 ‘Five Years In’ report because of
3 Quartiles selected by greatest percentage change or percentage point recyclability and outperformance on the elimination of non-recyclable items such
the inclusion of six signatories who did not report item in 2020 but subsequently
change (where applicable) as PVC), there is no robust data available to validate this.
reported it as part of their portfolio and with sufficient historical data
4 These are items and materials that a significant number of Global 9 Numbers evolved from those published in 2023 ‘Five Years In’ report due to
7 Metric is significantly influenced by portfolio composition
Commitment signatories have identified as problematic or unnecesary updated data source from WoodMackenzie
and sector
10 Calculated based on the weighted average of the signatories’ individual targets
 THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2024 PROGRESS REPORT 9

TITLE
FIGURE 2
As You Sow plastic packaging scores US Food and Beverage
INTRODUCTION Global Commitment signatories Non-Global Commitment signatories

5
SPOTLIGHT
ON IMPACT Global Commitment Food and Beverage
business signatories headquartered in the US
PERSPECTIVE
are achieving greater progress in virgin plastic
ON PROGRESS packaging reduction and recycling than non-
signatories, further demonstrating ambitious
AMBITION
targets drive action.
DRIVES ACTION
Figure 2 is derived from the data in the As You
Sow’s 2024 Plastic Promises Scorecard report,11
KEY PROGRESS
which, in partnership with Ubuntoo, analysed US
METRICS
headquartered companies’ performance on
plastic packaging from publicly available data.
TOP FMCG
PERFORMANCE
The Plastic Promises Scorecard measures
corporate ambition and action on plastic
GOVERNMENT packaging and combines into an overall
Plastic packaging score

PROGRESS
plastic packaging score.
COLLECTIVE
EFFORTS ON
2.8
PIVOTAL HURDLES 2.5 2.6
ABOUT
THIS REPORT

TRANSPARENCY
2.0
EXPLORE
THE DATA

APPENDIX

ENDNOTES

0.6

0
Reduction Recyclability
 THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2024 PROGRESS REPORT 10

KEY PROGRESS METRICS

INTRODUCTION

SPOTLIGHT
ON IMPACT
1 Decrease the use of virgin
plastic in packaging
As of 2021, brand and retail signatories have set targets
to reduce plastic or virgin plastic use in packaging
PERSPECTIVE • Brand and retail signatories’ virgin plastic use
ON PROGRESS decreased more notably than in other years
FIGURE 3*
Weight of brand and retail signatories’ virgin plastic packaging in million metric tonnes (MMT)** (4% between 2023 and 2022), driven by a
AMBITION Virgin plastic Recycled content (pre- and post-consumer) Total plastic packaging continued increase in PCR and a decrease in
DRIVES ACTION total plastic used due to market conditions.
12.8 13.2 13 Virgin plastic packaging demand decreased
KEY PROGRESS
12.2 12.3 12.3 MMT MMT MMT globally by 3% in 2023, driven by inflation and
MMT MMT MMT
METRICS
1.3 1.6 1.8 compounded by overstocking in 2022.12
0.6 0.8 1.0 MMT MMT
TOP FMCG MMT -1.4% MMT -1.9% MMT +2.7% MMT +0.9% -3.6% • Collectively, brand and retail signatories have
PERFORMANCE reduced their virgin plastics use since 2018
by 3%, performing better than the plastic
GOVERNMENT
packaging market as a whole, which has
PROGRESS increased virgin plastic use by 8% over that
11.6 11.4 11.2 11.5 11.7 11.2 same time.13
MMT MMT MMT MMT MMT MMT
COLLECTIVE • Although brand and retail signatories’ total
EFFORTS ON
PIVOTAL HURDLES
plastic packaging use has decreased this
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 year, it has increased since 2018 by 7%.
ABOUT
PCR remains the key driver of virgin plastic
THIS REPORT FIGURE 4* packaging reduction.
Percentage and number of brand and retail signatories in each category • The majority of brand, retail, and packaging
TRANSPARENCY producer signatories (60%) reduced their virgin
TOTAL PLASTIC PACKAGING USE plastic use between 2018 and 2023, but only
EXPLORE 32% of signatories with a virgin plastic reduction
THE DATA Decreasing Increasing target have either achieved or are on track to
meet their target. While significant progress has
VIRGIN PLASTIC PACKAGING USE

APPENDIX
been made, accelerating virgin plastic reduction
13%
Decreasing

ENDNOTES
will require complementing a continued increase
50% in PCR content with an extensive reduction in
total plastic packaging use.

8%
Increasing

30%

*The values in the visuals are rounded to a single decimal point or unit. As a result, the sum of the shares may not always match the total values shown.
**Every year, signatories have the option to update their previous years’ data. Reasons for updating include acquisitions, divestments, and improving data quality.
This can result in variation in data published in each annual progress report.
 THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2024 PROGRESS REPORT 11

INTRODUCTION
2 Increase the share of post-consumer recycled
content target across all plastic packaging used
Plastics producer, packaging producer, brand, and retail signatories
set PCR content targets ranging from 2% to 100%
SPOTLIGHT
ON IMPACT • PCR has shown consistent growth. Brand
FIGURE 5* and retail signatories grew by 2 percentage
PERSPECTIVE Percentage (of total weight) of PCR content in brand and retail signatories’ plastic packaging points (from 12% in 2022 to 14% in 2023),
ON PROGRESS
Change between years (percentage points) 2025 target driven by business commitments, significant
investments in recycling facilities coming
AMBITION to fruition, and legislative changes in
DRIVES ACTION
26% some geographies.

KEY PROGRESS • Brand and retail signatories have made

METRICS significant progress, collectively almost
+2pp tripling their use of PCR content since 2018
+2pp (from 5% to 14%), with the top quartile
TOP FMCG
+2pp 14% increasing their use of PCR content by
PERFORMANCE +2pp 12%
+1pp 10% 5 percentage points compared to 2022.
GOVERNMENT 8%
6% • Despite signatories reporting barriers of
PROGRESS
5% supply, cost, and regulation, as a group,
brand and retail signatories’ progress remains
COLLECTIVE 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 steady, increasing by 2 percentage points per
EFFORTS ON
PIVOTAL HURDLES year, but are off track to reach their aggregate
target of 26% on average.
ABOUT FIGURE 6** • There are major sectoral differences between
THIS REPORT
Brand and retail signatories’ recycled content targets vs PCR content in plastic packaging across sectors PCR use amongst brand and retail signatories
80% (see Figure 6). Cosmetic sector signatories
TRANSPARENCY
are leading with 31% PCR use on average in
2023, whilst food sector signatories’ use of
EXPLORE 70%
THE DATA Household and personal care PCR is much lower at 10% on average in 2023.
Cosmetics Regulations on the use of recycled content
60%
APPENDIX Beverages significantly impact sectors’ performance,
Sector % target achieved

Retail
Apparel, footwear & accessories with the food sector facing strict
50%
ENDNOTES food-contact regulations.14

40% • Recycler signatories continue to increase

volumes of plastics recycled with a 14%
30%
increase compared to 2022, bringing their
Food recycled content production to nearly
2 million metric tonnes (MMT) this year.
20%

10%

10% 20% 30% 40%

Sector weight PCR %

*The values in the visuals are rounded to a single decimal point or unit. As a result, the sum of the shares may not always match the total values shown.
**The size of each bubble is relative to the collective PCR volume of each sector
 THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2024 PROGRESS REPORT 12

INTRODUCTION
3 Eliminate problematic
or unnecessary plastic packaging
Qualitative target committed to by packaging
producer, brand, and retail signatories
SPOTLIGHT
ON IMPACT • In 2023, signatories have continued to
FIGURE 7 eliminate plastic packaging types that are
PERSPECTIVE Percentage of brand and retail signatories having decreased, most commonly identified as problematic
ON PROGRESS
increased or fully eliminated their use of EPS and PVC or unnecessary, with 380 examples, totalling
Percentage of signatories decreasing or increasing PVC or EPS use
131,000 tonnes of plastic reported.15
AMBITION
DRIVES ACTION Percentage of signatories who have eliminated PVC or EPS use • The examples were mostly material change
(68%), such as substituting another material
KEY PROGRESS or lightweighting. Other changes, such as
METRICS Decreasing Increasing direct elimination and switching to reuse
models, remain less popular as they require
fundamental changes to customer experience
TOP FMCG
PERFORMANCE
71% and business models.16
• Since 2020, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and
GOVERNMENT
expanded polystrene (EPS)/extruded
PVC

PROGRESS
39% 29% polystrene (XPS) in business-to-consumer
packaging for FMCGs has been reduced
COLLECTIVE
EFFORTS ON by brand and retail signatories by 1% and
PIVOTAL HURDLES 29% respectively, outpacing global market
progress, as shown in Figure 1.
ABOUT
THIS REPORT
• Along with innovation, regulation plays a role:
PVC has not been eliminated to the same
TRANSPARENCY
93% extent as EPS/XPS in business-to-consumer
packaging for FMCGs due to regulatory
barriers on blister packs for medical use
EXPLORE
THE DATA limiting alternative materials.
7%
57%
EPS

APPENDIX

ENDNOTES
 THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2024 PROGRESS REPORT 13

INTRODUCTION
4 Take action to move from single use
towards reuse models where relevant
Qualitative target committed to by packaging producer,
brand, and retail signatories
SPOTLIGHT
ON IMPACT
FIGURE 8
PERSPECTIVE Percentage (of total weight) of brand and retail signatories’ plastic packaging that is reusable
ON PROGRESS
Change between years (percentage points)

AMBITION
DRIVES ACTION
2019
1.6%
KEY PROGRESS
METRICS

-0.3pp
TOP FMCG
PERFORMANCE

GOVERNMENT 2023 1.3%

PROGRESS

COLLECTIVE
EFFORTS ON
PIVOTAL HURDLES
• The implementation of reusable plastic • Since 2020, 64% of brand, retail, and
packaging remains niche, with brand packaging producer signatories have launched
ABOUT
and retail signatories’ share of reusable reuse pilots, however this has not translated
THIS REPORT
plastic packaging constituting 1.3% of into scaled use of reuse models. The reasons
their total packaging.17 for this vary by context and reuse type. For
TRANSPARENCY
some models, achieving favourable economics
• Some signatories have grown their use of
and a satisfactory customer experience hinges
EXPLORE reuse models, with top quartile signatories
THE DATA on a critical mass of companies embracing
increasing their share of reusable packaging
reuse and working together, as well as a
from 1.4% in 2020 to 3.1% in 2023.
APPENDIX supportive policy environment.
• In addition, the current reuse metric does not
ENDNOTES
show the full picture of reusable packaging.
A more comprehensive reuse metric to
better reflect the successes and challenges is
currently being developed.
 THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2024 PROGRESS REPORT 14

INTRODUCTION
5 Ensure 100% of plastic packaging
is reusable, recyclable, or compostable
Committed by all packaging producer, brand, and retail signatories

SPOTLIGHT
ON IMPACT
FIGURE 9
PERSPECTIVE Percentage (of total weight) of brand and retail signatories’ plastic packaging that is designed for recycling
ON PROGRESS
(D4R), recyclable in practice and at scale (IPAS) or reusable, recyclable, or compostable (RRC)

AMBITION 2020 2021 2022 2023 2025 target

DRIVES ACTION 100%
KEY PROGRESS
METRICS
80% 82% 83%
77%
TOP FMCG 70% 67% 70%
PERFORMANCE
63% 65% 66% 63% 66%
GOVERNMENT
PROGRESS

COLLECTIVE
EFFORTS ON
PIVOTAL HURDLES

ABOUT
THIS REPORT

D4R % IPAS % RRC

TRANSPARENCY

EXPLORE
THE DATA • Brand and retail signatories increased their • Signatories’ share of packaging that is • Increasing the other 26 percentage points
share of reusable, recyclable, or compostable designed for recycling21 has continued to will require significant improvements in
APPENDIX plastic packaging by nearly 4 percentage increase (by 1 percentage point, from 82% in infrastructure and/or major packaging
points in 2023, to 70%. 2022 to 83% in 2023), but at a decreasing rate portfolio shifts.
ENDNOTES (see Figure 9) as businesses now face the most
• The growth was driven by recyclability, which • Signatories’ recyclability is hampered by small
challenging materials and formats.
increased by 4 percentage points, with format flexible packaging, such as wrappers,
polypropylene (PP) other rigid18 packaging • Relatively minor design enhancements, such as pouches, and sachets. Brand and retail
being reclassified as recyclable in practice and removing undetectable carbon black pigment, signatories’ use of small-format (<A4) flexibles
at scale as the key lever. There is now sufficient and removing or redesigning components such has increased by 17% since 2020, accounting
evidence that the PP other rigid recycling rate as caps, lids, pumps, and trigger sprays, could for 13% of their total portfolio. Without tackling
has grown and is being recycled in the same improve the overall recyclability in practice small format flexible packaging, the target of
stream as PP bottles in multiple regions.19 and at scale of the signatory group by up to 4 100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable
percentage points, from 70% currently to 74%. cannot be reached.
• The use of reusable (1.3% in 2022 and 2023)
and compostable plastic packaging (0.1% in
2022 and 2023) remained relatively unchanged
and niche.20
 THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2024 PROGRESS REPORT 15
FIGURE 10

Top 10 FMCG companies by revenue:

key progress metrics on plastic packaging, 2018–2023
TOTAL VIRGIN PCR REUSE DESIGNED REUSABLE, RECYCLABLE,
2018 (restated)b WEIGHT PLASTIC USE CONTENT MODELS FOR RECYCLING* & COMPOSTABLE (RRC)
2023 Total weight of plastic % decrease of virgin plastic % of total plastic packaging % of total plastic packaging % of total plastic packaging % of total plastic packaging
2025 target packaging in metric from baseline year to 2023 weight which is PCR weight that is reusable in 2023, weight designed for recycling weight that is reusable,
tonnes in 2023 and pp change from 2018 recyclable, or compostable

-33% 0% Baseline 30% 100%

(b): 2018
Nestlé 0.2% 2021 79% 57%
Food
897k -15% +9pp 0.8% -1pp +6pp
9% 2023 84% 63%

Procter & Gamble Not a Global Commitment Signatory

-5% b: 2020 25% 100%

PepsiCo 3% 2021 89% 77%
Food and Beverages
2,554k +6% +7pp N/A =0pp
10% 2023 88% 77%

AB InBev Not a Global Commitment Signatory

-50% b: 2019 25% 100%

Unilever** 65%
1% 2020 50%
Household and 670k -18% +21pp 0.1% = N/A +3pp
Personal Care 22% 2023 72% 53%

JBS Not a Global Commitment Signatory

Tyson Foods Not a Global Commitment Signatory

-20% b: 2019 25% 100%

The Coca-Cola
9% 2021 100% 99%
Company*** 3,446k +6% +8pp 1.2% -3pp +1pp
Beverages 17% 2023 100% 100%

-25% b: 2019 30% 100%

Mars,
0% 2020 43% 22%
Incorporated 210k +5% +2pp 0% = 0pp =0pp
Food 2% 2023 46% 22%

-33% b: 2019 50% 100%

L’Oréal 5% 2020 50% 30%
Cosmetics
154k -13% +27pp 5% +5pp +18pp
32% 2023 51% 48%

Notes:
a) Signatories are ranked according to their revenues as of the beginning of the Global Commitment in 2018
b) Where applicable, 2018 data and other prior year data have been restated to reflect the current business portfolio (following divestments and acquisitions), allowing comparison with today's data. Original data for these years can be found in prior year progress reports
c) Year-on-year growth is calculated in percentage for virgin weight and using percentage points for all other metrics
d)  All quantitative data are provided for the latest year reported, in most cases for the relevant company’s financial year ending 2022. Details of the reporting timeframe for each signatory are provided in their individual reports online.
e) To find more information about individual plastic reduction targets, baseline years, and baseline weight, please look at the online reports
* Designed for recycling is one of the two recyclability metrics tracked in the Global Commitment. An overview of recyclability metrics can be found on page 26 of the report
** Unilever’s reporting scope is limited to primary and secondary plastic packaging in 27 markets, representing approximately 84% of the plastic footprint
*** The Coca-Cola Company's reporting scope is limited to consumer-facing primary plastic packaging, which covers approximately 90% of total plastic usage
 THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2024 PROGRESS REPORT 16
FIGURE 11

Other large FMCG companies by revenue:

key progress metrics on plastic packaging, 2018–2023
TOTAL VIRGIN PCR REUSE DESIGNED REUSABLE, RECYCLABLE,
2018 (restated)b WEIGHT PLASTIC USE CONTENT MODELS FOR RECYCLING & COMPOSTABLE (RRC)
2023 Total weight of plastic % decrease of virgin plastic % of total plastic packaging % of total plastic packaging % of total plastic packaging % of total plastic packaging
2025 target packaging in metric from baseline year to 2023 weight which is PCR weight that is reusable in 2023, weight designed for recycling weight that is reusable,
tonnes in 2023 and pp change from 2018 recyclable, or compostable

-33% 0% b: 2019 50% 100%

Danone 7% 83% 66%
Food
693k -13% +8pp 4.5% +1pp 2022
+8pp
15% 2023 83% 74%

-5% b: 2020 5% 100%

Mondelez 0% 73% 5%
Food
187k -2% +1pp 0.0% = 0pp 2020
+14pp
1% 2023 87% 19%

-33% b: 2018 30% 100%

Henkel
Household and 268k 9% 0.0% = 0pp 2021 68% 74%
-24% +11pp -5pp
Personal Care 20% 2023 70% 69%

Colgate- -33% b: 2019 25% 100%

Palmolive 256k 6% +12pp 2.5% +2.5pp 2020 69% 57%
Household and -20% +17pp
18% 2023 81% 74%
Personal Care

-5% b: 2020 40% 100%

Diageo* 0% 67% 81%
Beverages
44k -7% +22pp 0.0% = 0pp 2020
+5pp
22% 2023 NOT REPORTED 86%

-30% b: 2020 25% 100%

Reckitt
Household and 177k 3% 1.9% -3pp 2020 70% 59%
-16% +5pp +16pp
Personal Care 8% 2023 76% 75%

-30% b: 2018
25% 100%
SC Johnson
Household and 68k 5% 12% +9pp 2021 62% 49%
-32% +20pp +16pp
Personal Care 25% 2023 NOT REPORTED 65%

-5% b: 2021 10% 100%

Kellogg 0% 73% 16%
Food
51k +3% =0pp 0.0% = 0pp 2020
+9pp
0% 2023 64% 25%

-5% b: 2018 25% 100%

Essity
Household and 46k 0% 0.0% = 0pp 2020 77% 18%
-11% +10pp +9pp
Personal Care 10% 2023 72% 27%

-7% b: 2019 15% 100%

FrieslandCampina* 0% 26%
Food
36k -41% +10pp 0.5% -2pp 2020 NOT REPORTED
-1pp
10% 2023 NOT REPORTED 25%
Notes:
a) ‘Other large FMCGs’ refers here to those with the highest revenues after the Top 10 displayed on page 15, as of beginning of the Global Commitment in 2018
b) Where applicable, 2018 data and other prior year data have been restated to reflect the current business portfolio (following divestments and acquisitions), allowing comparison with today's data. Original data for these years can be found in prior year progress reports.
c) Year-on-year growth is calculated in percentage for virgin weight and using percentage points for all other metrics
d)  All quantitative data are provided for the latest year reported, in most cases for the relevant company’s financial year ending 2023. Details of the reporting timeframe for each signatory are provided in their individual reports online.
e) To find more information about individual plastic reduction targets, baseline years, and baseline weight, please look at the online reports
* Diageo has a reduced PCR scope and target, reported figure refers to PET bottles which cover 50% of total plastics portfolio
 THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2024 PROGRESS REPORT 17

GOVERNMENT PROGRESS
INTRODUCTION

SPOTLIGHT
ON IMPACT 30 national, sub-national, and local governments UK’s Plastic Packaging Tax,22 on packaging that
GOVERNMENTS REPORTING IN 2024
across four continents participate in the Global does not contain at least 30% of recycled plastic
PERSPECTIVE Commitment, with 26 additional governments or stimulated demand for products containing
ON PROGRESS The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water
expressing interest in joining. Between 2023 recycled plastics through public procurement. In Management, the Netherlands
and 2024, the Government of the Rocha the City of Ljubljana, public procurement officials
AMBITION Department (Uruguay) officially joined the Global at the public water and waste management
DRIVES ACTION City of Austin, Texas, US
Commitment. With concrete policy efforts such company, JP VOKA SNAGA, can only purchase
as bans on plastic packaging types that are waste collection bags and containers made of
KEY PROGRESS City of Buenos Aires (Gobierno de la Ciudad de
most commonly identified as problematic or recycled plastic.
METRICS Buenos Aires), Argentina
unnecessary, economic incentives, changes to
public procurement, and the establishment of Governments are encouraging reuse models
TOP FMCG with around half promoting collaboration with Ministry for the Environment, New Zealand
EPR schemes, governments are working alongside
PERFORMANCE the private sector and delivering awareness
businesses to maintain momentum for lasting
solutions to the plastic pollution crisis. This section campaigns. In Australia, the Australian Packaging The City of Ljubljana, Slovenia
GOVERNMENT provides insights from the 16 governments that Covenant Organisation (APCO) published a
PROGRESS report — Scaling Up Reusable Packaging —
reported in 2024. Government of the United Kingdom
which outlines the importance of reuse and
COLLECTIVE Significant progress is being made by how businesses and users can benefit from
EFFORTS ON
governments to eliminate problematic and reusable packaging models. About 40% of Ministry of Environment and Climate Action,
PIVOTAL HURDLES Portugal
unnecessary plastic packaging. 63% of reporting government signatories reported establishing
ABOUT
governments established or revised economic economic incentives or piloting reuse models.
incentives (e.g. subsidies, funding schemes to The Basque Country, in collaboration with The Scottish Government, United Kingdom
THIS REPORT
encourage innovation and research into alternative Basque Culinary Center Foundation, launched
TRANSPARENCY materials or designs) or disincentives (e.g. a pilot to test a technological solution (vending Mexico City Government, Mexico
tax, charges) while 63% have introduced legal machine and app) for the distribution of reusable
measures to drive the elimination of problematic containers in catering establishments.
EXPLORE Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment
THE DATA packaging formats. Scotland has rolled out
economic incentives to promote reusable Governments have been increasing
​​ collection,
APPENDIX alternatives and discourage the use of single-use sorting, and recycling rates with more than half The Australian Government
beverage cups. In the Netherlands, a surcharge of government signatories reporting infrastructure
ENDNOTES has been applied for take-away single-use food investments in 2023. Almost half of governments Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy
packaging since 1 July 2023. have also been promoting collection, sorting,
reuse, and recycling schemes (e.g. deposit return
To stimulate the demand for recycled plastics, schemes) while a third have established or are City of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
75% of governments reporting in 2024 have revisiting economic incentives (e.g. subsidies) or
set quantitative targets to achieve a minimum disincentives (e.g. taxes, charges) to encourage Basque Government, Kingdom of Spain
threshold of recycled content in specific the circulation of plastics. In Chile, The Ministry of
packaging (e.g. all PET bottles should contain at the Environment developed a Recycling Fund23 to
Government of Chile
least 25% recycled plastic by 2025). A quarter finance projects carried out by local governments
of reporting governments have also introduced to prevent waste generation and promote its
economic incentives or disincentives, such as the reuse, recycling, or recovery. The Government of France
 THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2024 PROGRESS REPORT 18

COLLECTIVE EFFORTS PR3:

INTRODUCTION

SPOTLIGHT
ON PIVOTAL HURDLES Advancing reuse standards to empower
the move away from single-use packaging
Launched in 2019 by Resolve, an environmental NGO, PR3 aims to
ON IMPACT Learnings from the past six years of the Global Commitment point to promote reuse solutions by developing reuse standards to support
three pivotal hurdles that are crucial to overcome to address plastic the shift away from single-use packaging, unlocking investment
PERSPECTIVE packaging waste and pollution: scaling reuse, flexible plastic packaging in
ON PROGRESS
and consumer confidence. Reuse standards are necessary to align
high-leakage countries, and lack of infrastructure to collect and circulate returnable packaging — regardless of producer — with shared
packaging. Overcoming these requires bold collective business action and infrastructure for collection, washing, and transport. PR3 builds
AMBITION policy changes. Several Global Commitment signatories are already driving partnerships to activate reuse ecosystems using the standards as an
DRIVES ACTION
collaborative action on these. This section highlights some of the initiatives. economic development tool. It also catalyses critical relationships
Many more actors need to get behind initiatives like this and more, larger- between unlikely allies in government, FMCG companies, small reuse
KEY PROGRESS scale collaborative action and advocacy are needed to truly overcome these service providers, health and environmental advocates, and social
METRICS
pivotal hurdles. justice activists.
TOP FMCG In 2021, early drafts were published for extensive review with global
PERFORMANCE
stakeholders and PR3’s Reusable Packaging System Standards
REUSE: Panel began formalising the standards in 2023. By 2026, PR3 aims
GOVERNMENT Moving from single use to reuse models presents to publish and deploy seven standards around the world, with the
PROGRESS
one of the biggest opportunities to reduce plastic first four due in 2025. At the same time, PR3 will run a global design
pollution and is crucial to reducing virgin plastic contest to select a global reuse symbol. PR3 has also partnered with
COLLECTIVE
use. While certain refill models can be scaled by the Green Sports Alliance and Upstream to bring reuse to stadiums
EFFORTS ON
PIVOTAL HURDLES individual companies, scaling returnable packaging during the 2026 World Cup.
requires new, shared infrastructure and systems to
ABOUT be designed and built. The projects below are key Global Commitment organisations involved:
THIS REPORT efforts in developing such shared infrastructure or Organisations represented on the Standards Panel: Ahold
enabling standards. Delhaize, Australian Packaging Covenant Organization, Mars,
TRANSPARENCY Incorporated, Nestlé, PAC worldwide, Target Corporation, The
Clorox Company, Tomra, Unilever
EXPLORE
THE DATA

APPENDIX

ENDNOTES

Image: Resolve
 THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2024 PROGRESS REPORT 19

The ReUse Initiative: ReUse City Canada:

INTRODUCTION Brands and retailers aim at scaling up reusable Facilitating retailer-manufacturer
packaging for food products in France collaboration for reuse systems
SPOTLIGHT Launched in May 2023, Citeo’s ReUse initiative aims to establish a ReUse City Canada, launched in 2024 by the Consumer Goods Forum,
ON IMPACT
functional national reuse system for food packaging. The project is is an on-the-ground initiative to design and implement a scalable
currently focused on developing the key operational components multi-brand/multi-retailer reuse system tailored to consumer and
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS
to establish a regional pilot, including product selection, customer industry needs. The project, which is currently being designed and will
experience, logistics (both forward and reverse), traceability through launch in 2025, is expected to include home care, personal care, and
IT solutions, and overall cost management. By May 2025, Citeo and its packaged food categories. Eight brands and retailers will participate
AMBITION
partners will begin the pilot programme across four regions in France, in the first city pilot in Ottawa. Learnings and blueprints from the
DRIVES ACTION
collaborating with 25 brands and four retailers to roll out the system pilot could eventually support the extension of the project to other
in over 1,000 stores. The insights gained from this pilot will pave markets, including essential insights for achieving consumer uptake.
KEY PROGRESS
the way for the national implementation of a reuse system for food
METRICS
packaging in 2026. Global Commitment organisations involved:
TOP FMCG Colgate-Palmolive, L’Oréal, Mars, Incorporated, SC Johnson24
PERFORMANCE Global Commitment organisations involved:
Carrefour, Nestlé23
GOVERNMENT
PROGRESS

COLLECTIVE
EFFORTS ON
PIVOTAL HURDLES

ABOUT
THIS REPORT

TRANSPARENCY

EXPLORE
THE DATA

APPENDIX

ENDNOTES

Image: Citeo Image: Consumer Goods Forum

 THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2024 PROGRESS REPORT 20

INFRASTRUCTURE: Project STOP:

Infrastructure to collect, sort, and reuse or recycle
INTRODUCTION packaging is fundamental to safely circulate Tackling plastic leakage in Indonesia
materials in our economy and keep them out Project STOP, co-founded by Borealis and Systemiq in 2017, tackles
SPOTLIGHT
of the environment. Several signatories of the mismanaged waste in Indonesia. The project collaborates with
ON IMPACT Global Commitment are involved in, and are national and local governments to implement affordable circular
voluntarily funding, various initiatives to improve waste systems accessible to all households and institutions. The
PERSPECTIVE infrastructure, especially in high-leakage regions. programme keeps plastics out of the environment and fosters their
ON PROGRESS These projects help keep some packaging out of recycling. Since its inception, Project STOP has provided waste
the environment, demonstrate what’s possible, and collection services to nearly 450,000 people in Indonesia, created
AMBITION generate valuable learnings. The level of voluntary close to 300 full-time jobs in the waste management sector, and
DRIVES ACTION funding is insufficient compared to the necessary collected over 72,000 metric tonnes of waste, including nearly 10,000
investments for a financially sustainable system, metric tonnes of plastic, creating socio-economic benefits for local
KEY PROGRESS which must be significantly larger and paired with communities. Three city projects have been successfully transferred
METRICS the establishment of EPR policy — the only proven to local governments, and Project STOP is now expanding its efforts
method to secure dedicated and ongoing funding across the entire Regency of Banyuwangi, East Java. Ultimately,
TOP FMCG for effective packaging collection and recycling. Project STOP aims to provide a blueprint that can be further
PERFORMANCE replicated across Indonesia and beyond.

GOVERNMENT
Global Commitment organisations involved:
PROGRESS
Governments: Norway. Private sector: Borealis, Nestlé,
Schwarz Group, Systemiq
COLLECTIVE
EFFORTS ON
PIVOTAL HURDLES

ABOUT
THIS REPORT

TRANSPARENCY

EXPLORE
THE DATA

APPENDIX

ENDNOTES

Image: Borealis and Systemiq

 THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2024 PROGRESS REPORT 21

Delterra: CleanStream:
INTRODUCTION Developing circular economies in the Global South Turning PP packaging waste into new
Launched in May 2023, this Delterra partnership aims to reduce products using innovative technology
SPOTLIGHT environmental impacts from waste by implementing scalable, Polypropylene (PP) other rigids was recognised as recyclable in
ON IMPACT sustainable waste management and recycling systems in the practice and at scale this year. An example of progress is Berry
Global South. Over five years (2023-2028), the initiative seeks to Global’s CleanStream project, which set out to provide a fully closed
PERSPECTIVE demonstrate that effective circular economies can be developed, loop route for post-consumer, rigid PP packaging using mechanical
ON PROGRESS putting waste materials back into productive use. Key achievements recycling technologies to turn this into new packaging, even for food
to date or near term across Delterra’s projects include: establishing products. With the capacity to recycle nearly 40% of all PP waste
AMBITION self-sustaining circular waste systems in seven cities across Argentina, collected from domestic recycling bins in the United Kingdom, the
DRIVES ACTION Brazil, and Indonesia; creating new markets for low-value plastics innovative CleanStream technology offers the UK’s first domestically
in Argentina; lowering methane emissions from organic waste; and collected, mechanically recycled, contact-sensitive, recycled PP at
KEY PROGRESS connecting 8 million people to improved waste and recycling systems. scale. The output products have been developed in close partnership
METRICS The project has also enhanced the livelihoods of and improved with signatory brands to the Global Commitment, including
working conditions for over 900 waste workers, many of whom are L’Oréal who conducted materials trials and testing throughout the
TOP FMCG marginalised women. In the coming year, the initiative plans to scale development and are now using recycled PP in a range of their
PERFORMANCE efforts to more cities in Argentina and Brazil, expand an integrated products. The project has been in development for three years and
waste management approach in Indonesia, and enhance plastics operations started in 2023. To date, 30,000 tonnes of kerbside-
GOVERNMENT traceability and recycling market development. collected, PP packaging has been recycled, or an estimated 600
PROGRESS
million pieces of packaging.
Global Commitment organisations involved:
COLLECTIVE
EFFORTS ON
AMCOR, Mars, Incorporated Global Commitment organisations involved:
PIVOTAL HURDLES Berry Global, L’Oréal

ABOUT
THIS REPORT

TRANSPARENCY

EXPLORE
THE DATA

APPENDIX

ENDNOTES

Image: Delterra Image: Berry Global

 THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2024 PROGRESS REPORT 22

The Fair Circularity Initiative: FLEXIBLE PACKAGING

INTRODUCTION Respecting human rights in the IN HIGH LEAKAGE COUNTRIES:
Flexible plastic packaging, such as wrappers,
informal waste sector pouches, and sachets, are the most challenging
SPOTLIGHT Support for the informal sector must be a key consideration when plastic packaging category from a waste and
ON IMPACT pollution perspective, particularly in high-leakage
scaling and formalising the infrastructure for a circular economy.
The Fair Circularity Initiative was convened in 2022 by Tearfund to regions. To date, broad stakeholder alignment
PERSPECTIVE help ensure the human rights of workers within the informal waste on the direction forward is lacking, and large-
ON PROGRESS scale collaboration is limited. As such this section
sector are respected and their critical role in circular value chains is
recognised. Founding members of the initiative include The Coca-Cola doesn’t include specific collaborative effort
AMBITION Company, Nestlé, PepsiCo, and Unilever. The initiative agreed to the examples. It will be important to see stakeholders
DRIVES ACTION across industry, government, and civil society align
Fair Circularity Principles in 2022 with an initial core focus on plastics,
and developed — in partnership with Systemiq — the Living Income on a common direction and mobilise collective
KEY PROGRESS Study. The study calls for a ‘living income’ for informal waste pickers action and advocacy in order to address this
METRICS pivotal hurdle at scale.
in Brazil, Ghana, and India, highlighting the gap between their current
earnings and a decent local standard of living. It also offers a practical
TOP FMCG
method to assess waste workers’ living income in the context of the
PERFORMANCE
International, legally binding instrument on plastic pollution.
GOVERNMENT
PROGRESS Global Commitment organisations involved:
The Coca-Cola Company, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Systemiq, Unilever
COLLECTIVE
EFFORTS ON
PIVOTAL HURDLES

ABOUT
THIS REPORT

TRANSPARENCY

EXPLORE
THE DATA

APPENDIX

ENDNOTES Image: The Fair Circularity Initiative

 THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2024 PROGRESS REPORT 23

ABOUT THIS REPORT

INTRODUCTION

SPOTLIGHT
ON IMPACT This document is the sixth in a series of annual to throughout the report as 2023 data, with data Commitment framework and common definitions
Global Commitment progress reports. It provides submitted in the 2023 reporting cycle referred to and publicly reporting progress on them annually
PERSPECTIVE insight into the trajectory of progress being made as 2022 data, and so on; any notable exceptions through the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
ON PROGRESS by leading businesses and governments to tackle are clearly marked as such. References
plastic waste and pollution. throughout the report to “% of signatories” refer THESE BUSINESSES ARE:
AMBITION to the percentage of reporting signatories. Suppliers to the packaging industry:
DRIVES ACTION Sidel
REPORTING SIGNATORIES
KEY PROGRESS
In this report, 124 businesses that produce, use,
EXITING SIGNATORIES Packaged goods companies:
Tupperware
METRICS
and recycle large volumes of plastic packaging In the last year, three businesses left the Global
Retailers:
(representing 95% of the business signatories Commitment signatory group. This was as a
TOP FMCG El Corte Inglés, S.A.
PERFORMANCE eligible to report through the Ellen MacArthur result of being unwilling to fulfil mandatory
Foundation) and 16 governments across four requirements for participation, which include
GOVERNMENT
continents have reported on progress against setting quantitative targets in line with the Global
PROGRESS public targets to align to a circular economy
vision for plastics.
COLLECTIVE
EFFORTS ON They have all been asked to report against a
PIVOTAL HURDLES common set of commitments, using the same FIGURE 12
definitions, with the aim of driving transparency Breakdown of reporting signatories, by commitment category
ABOUT and consistency in data sharing on plastics across a
THIS REPORT significant group of businesses and governments.
8 Suppliers to
the plastic
8 Raw material
producers —
3 Raw material
producers —
8 Beverages 6 Apparel,
footwear, and
3 Cosmetics
2 Other
TRANSPARENCY
packaging non-compostable compostable accessories
REPORTED DATA industry plastics plastics
EXPLORE
THE DATA This report should be read alongside the
individual progress reports submitted by business
APPENDIX and government signatories. These are available
via an online platform which allows users to
ENDNOTES browse individual signatory data and offers a
downloadable version of the full set of data. Data 22 33
accessibility is vital to maximise transparency
Collecting, sorting, 91 Packaging

on the progress of individual signatories via the

and recycling
companies
Packaged goods
companies, packaging
12
Household &
reporting process. producers, and personal
retailers care
16 13
This report provides a quantitative and qualitative Governments
Food
14
assessment of progress made by signatories Retail

towards their 2025 commitments and targets

over the last year. Due to the timing of reporting
cycles, most quantitative data provided by
business signatories in this reporting cycle is for
2023. Aggregated statistics are therefore referred *Some signatories have committed in two different categories. As a result, the sum of signatories in the left pie chart is higher than 124 businesses.
 THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2024 PROGRESS REPORT 24

TRANSPARENCY
INTRODUCTION

SPOTLIGHT
ON IMPACT Providing transparency on signatories’
commitments, as well as the actions they take FIGURE 13
PERSPECTIVE and their progress towards achieving them, sits Reporting and transparency
ON PROGRESS
at the heart of the Global Commitment. This
transparency is crucial for signatories to take
AMBITION more informed and targeted actions, for investors
DRIVES ACTION
and societal organisations to hold signatories
accountable, and to drive the transition to a Reporting
KEY PROGRESS circular economy. Transparency is achieved not 100%
METRICS
just through the public disclosure of targets —
both qualitative and quantitative — and progress
TOP FMCG towards them, but also through providing
PERFORMANCE 75%
common definitions and clear and consistent
presentations of data.
GOVERNMENT
PROGRESS In 2023, transparency continued to sit at the
50%
heart of the Global Commitment:
COLLECTIVE
EFFORTS ON • The vast majority (87%) of original signatories Reporting Reporting
PIVOTAL HURDLES have consistently reported progress against full scope 25% for six years
the targets over six years, bringing greater
ABOUT transparency to the overall trends.
THIS REPORT
• Across all signatories, significant progress in
0%
third-party verification of data was made over
TRANSPARENCY
the last two years, with nearly half (45%) now
having third-party data verification measures
EXPLORE
THE DATA in place.
• The number of signatories publicly disclosing
APPENDIX
their portfolio breakdowns — a key metric
to foster transparency — has continued to
ENDNOTES
increase slightly, with 82% of brands, retailers,
and packaging producers now providing
public details of which categories of plastics
are present in their portfolios.
The public data provided by these signatories Part/all 3rd party Disclosing
offers valuable information on the types of verification Portfolio split
packaging being used today, helping to shed
light on the lessons learned, pivotal hurdles to be
overcome, and potential solutions as signatories
work towards the Global Commitment’s common
vision to stop plastic becoming waste.
 THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2024 PROGRESS REPORT 25

EXPLORE THE INSIGHTS AND DATA

INTRODUCTION

SPOTLIGHT
ON IMPACT
This annual progress report provides an overview of signatories’
progress based on the latest (2023) reported data at aggregate level.
Further information is available:
PERSPECTIVE
ON PROGRESS
BY INDIVIDUAL SIGNATORY
AMBITION
DRIVES ACTION Access the progress of Global Commitment
signatories, grouped into the following
KEY PROGRESS categories, via the online data platform.
METRICS
Plastics producers
TOP FMCG
PERFORMANCE Packaging producers and users

GOVERNMENT Collecting, sorting, and recycling companies

PROGRESS
Suppliers to the plastic packaging industry
COLLECTIVE
EFFORTS ON Governments
PIVOTAL HURDLES
Access here
ABOUT
THIS REPORT Access the individual progress reports
submitted by the signatories whose data is used
TRANSPARENCY in this report, sort and filter by key metrics in
summary tables, or download the full dataset.
EXPLORE
THE DATA

APPENDIX LOOKING FOR RESOURCES

TO SUPPORT YOU WITH
ENDNOTES
DRIVING CHANGE IN YOUR
ORGANISATION?
Access our Upstream Innovation Guide
and workshop resources.
 THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2024 PROGRESS REPORT 26

APPENDIX
INTRODUCTION WHAT THE METRICS MEAN:
RECYCLABILITY IN THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT
SPOTLIGHT
ON IMPACT

PERSPECTIVE
Designed for recycling Recyclable in practice and at scale
ON PROGRESS

AMBITION
Packaging that is designed for recycling AND for which there is real-world
Packaging that meets technical guidelines so that it can be recycled
DRIVES ACTION proof of recycling “in practice and at scale.” This is currently defined
Definition with current technologies. Does not consider the scale at which these
as a 30% recycling rate achieved across multiple regions, collectively
technologies and broader systems for collection and recycling exist.
representing at least 400 million inhabitants.1
KEY PROGRESS
METRICS
Shared responsibility across value chain:
TOP FMCG plastic producers, packaging producers, FMCGs, retailers as well as
PERFORMANCE goverments, citizens, and waste management companies.
Responsibility In direct control of packaging producers, FMCGs, and retailers.
Those who put packaging on the market can influence this metric
GOVERNMENT
PROGRESS
through (a) design for recycling; (b) moving away from unrecyclable
formats; (c) advocating for EPR and other key policies, and (d) investing
in infrastructure.
COLLECTIVE
EFFORTS ON
PIVOTAL HURDLES

Current
ABOUT
THIS REPORT
average %
83% 70%
rate across
signatories
TRANSPARENCY

EXPLORE
THE DATA

APPENDIX

ENDNOTES

1 These thresholds were defined in 2019, based on what was thought to be an ambitious yet realistic target to reach by 2025
 THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2024 PROGRESS REPORT 27

APPENDIX
INTRODUCTION PLASTIC PACKAGING REDUCTION TARGETS IN THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT
SPOTLIGHT In 2020, it became mandatory for brand and retail for reduction targets to be accepted within the total weight of virgin plastic in packaging by 2025.
ON IMPACT signatories to set targets to reduce total plastic Global Commitment, aimed at maximising their They should be set against a recent, historical
packaging or use of virgin plastic in packaging transparency and consistency. baseline and expressed in line with the following
PERSPECTIVE by 2025. Plastic packaging reduction targets structure: “By 2025, we will reduce our total annual
ON PROGRESS To be accepted in the Global Commitment, targets
can manifest in a variety of ways. Below is an [plastic packaging / virgin plastic in packaging] by
must be formulated as an absolute reduction in
overview of different types of reduction targets [xx] % compared to [xx] million tonnes in 20[xx].”
the total weight of plastic packaging or in the
AMBITION that can be set, and the specific requirements
DRIVES ACTION

KEY PROGRESS Accepted in the Global Commitment Not accepted in the Global Commitment
METRICS
What is being Total weight of plastic packaging or virgin plastic in packaging X Virgin fossil-based plastic in packaging
TOP FMCG reduced? Signatories are permitted to express targets either as a reduction of total Targets to reduce virgin fossil-based plastic include efforts to increase
PERFORMANCE
plastic packaging weight, or as reduction of total virgin plastic (from both renewable content as well as those on recycled content and reducing
finite and renewable sources) in packaging. Given the need for reduction plastic packaging volumes overall. These types of targets are not accepted
GOVERNMENT in the overall amount of plastic packaging, as well as the amount of to avoid shifting focus from efforts on overall reduction — delivered
PROGRESS virgin plastic in packaging, virgin reduction targets are expected to be through elimination and reuse — by incorporating an overly broad set of
underpinned by efforts on reuse and elimination, and not exclusively based contributing measures.
COLLECTIVE on increasing recycled content.
EFFORTS ON X Reduction of packaging made from other materials and other products
PIVOTAL HURDLES There is a need to reduce overall packaging volumes, regardless of
material. However, the focus of the Global Commitment is specifically on
ABOUT plastic packaging.
THIS REPORT

TRANSPARENCY
How is the ‘Absolute’ reduction X ‘Relative’ reduction
reduction To build an economy that can thrive long term, there is a need for absolute Reduction targets measured relative to sales (e.g. ‘intensity’ per dollar
calculated? — not relative — decoupling from fossil fuels, and an absolute reduction in of revenue or units sold), or a future estimated scenario (e.g. versus a
EXPLORE
THE DATA
the negative impacts on the world’s natural systems. As a result, reduction projected total for a year under ‘BAU’) or any other ‘relative’ benchmark
targets in the Global Commitment must be calculated in absolute are not accepted. Dependent on levels of actual or assumed organic
terms against the total amount of plastic packaging (or virgin plastic in growth, these types of targets can result in widely varying levels of
APPENDIX
packaging) in the baseline year. actual reduction and, in some cases, growth in absolute levels of plastic
packaging or virgin plastic use.
ENDNOTES

What Published total weight for a recent year (2017 or later) X Baselines that aren’t published
baseline Reduction should be calculated against a recent, historical base year Transparency on the baseline weight is critical to measure progress against
is used? for which the total weight of plastic packaging has been calculated. the target set, and as such ensure credibility of the commitment.
This baseline weight must be reported publicly to ensure transparent
measurement of progress, and will be used to show how much progress X Baselines for any year before 2017
has been made against targets through annual progress reporting as part This is aimed at ensuring similar timelines across signatories and focusing
of the Global Commitment. measurement on recent efforts and progress achieved since the launch of
the Global Commitment, in line with other commitments made.

What is the 2025 X Any timeline beyond 2025

timeline for Reduction targets must be set to be delivered by 31 December 2025. While some signatories may have separately set 2030 targets and
achievement? This reflects the need to start acting now, and is aligned with all other communicated these elsewhere, the Global Commitment requires
commitments signatories have made as part of the Global Commitment. that at least an intermediary 2025 milestone is set.
 THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2024 PROGRESS REPORT 28

ENDNOTES
INTRODUCTION

SPOTLIGHT
ON IMPACT 1 All aggregated data presented in this report pertains 16 More information about eliminating plastic packaging,
exclusively to signatories who submitted data in the current including inspiring case studies and actionable frameworks
PERSPECTIVE reporting cycle for approaching packaging design decisions, can be found
in the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Upstream Innovation
ON PROGRESS
2 For signatories where data on key metrics was lacking for Guide
2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, or 2022, data was extrapolated
AMBITION based on the metric average for the group 17 Previous progress reports showed a small variation between
DRIVES ACTION years (from 1.2%-1.5%). Revised data for previous years now
3 Source: WoodMacKenzie market data more accurately reflect that the use of reusable packaging
has remained flat at 1.3% since 2020.
KEY PROGRESS 4 Based on comparing the amount of fossil resources
METRICS (in oil equivalent) for the production of virgin plastics 18 ‘PP other rigids’ include packaging such as pots, tubes,
(feedstock material and energy in production process) cups, etc.
with the amount for producing recycled plastics (energy in
TOP FMCG collection, sorting, recycling processes) 19 More information about the 2024 recycling rate survey can
PERFORMANCE be found here
5 Based on comparing the amount of fossil resources
GOVERNMENT (in oil equivalent) for the production of virgin plastics 20 Individual percentages for reusable, recyclable,
(feedstock material and energy in production process) compostable, and ‘not reusable, recyclable, or compostable’
PROGRESS
with the amount for producing recycled plastics (energy in will not sum to 100% for all individual signatories or
collection, sorting, recycling processes) the group as a whole, as a large proportion of reusable
COLLECTIVE packaging is also recyclable
EFFORTS ON 6 Based on a global average CO2 emissions of 4.6 tonnes per
PIVOTAL HURDLES person per year 21 Designed for recycling is one of the two recyclability
metrics tracked in the Global Commitment. An overview of
7 Due to the timing of reporting cycles, quantitative data recyclability metrics can be found on page 28 of the report.
ABOUT provided by business signatories in this reporting cycle is
THIS REPORT for 2023 22 GOV.UK, Plastic Packaging Tax: steps to take

TRANSPARENCY 8 More information about the 2024 recycling rate survey can 23 ECONOMÍA CIRCULAR, Fondo para el Reciclaje (FPR)
be found here
24 More signatories are involved, but the project is in early
EXPLORE 9 OECD, Global Plastics Outlook: Policy Scenarios to 2060 stage discussions
THE DATA (2022)

APPENDIX 10 Based on all total virgin fossil-based plastics production of

352 million tonnes (PlasticEurope, Plastics – The Facts 2022
(2022)
ENDNOTES
11 As You Sow, 2024 Plastic Promises Scorecard

12 Source: WoodMacKenzie market data

13 Source: WoodMacKenzie market data

14 For example: Regulation (EU) No 2022/1616 – Regulating

recycled plastics for food contact

15 The full tonnage of eliminated plastic packaging is likely to

be significantly higher as elimination questions in the Global
Commitment’s reporting framework are optional
 THE GLOBAL COMMITMENT 2024 PROGRESS REPORT 29

DISCLAIMER
TITLE
INTRODUCTION

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APPENDIX
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