News

10 February 2017

Action plan aims to recycle or reuse 70 percent of plastic globally

A new action plan has been released that if implemented would see 70 percent of plastic packaging reused and recycled globally. Already the plan, laid out in the report The New Plastics Economy: Catalysing action, has been endorsed by more than 40 industry leaders. The report was produced by the World Economic Forum and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

The plan additionally calls for the remaining 30 percent of plastics to be redesigned. A transitions strategy outlines how plastics design could better facilitate recycling and re-use, such as through replacing single-use plastic bags with reusable alternatives. Without a redesign, warns the report, plastics will continue to clog up land-fill sites or require incineration.

"The plan puts innovation at the heart of a strategy that could shift the entire system while unlocking a billion dollar business opportunity. Alignment along value chains and between the public and private sector is key to this," said Dominic Waughray of the World Economic Forum.

For more information, visit ellenmacarthurfoundation.org