The Plastic Waste Coalition of Actionfrom The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) has announced what it calls the “first critical advances” made by Coalition members to transform the industry's relationship with plastic packaging.

Focused on key packaging design changes and the development of a framework for optimal Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs, these actions illustrate the coalition's leading role in the industry to reduce plastic waste by driving tangible, scalable actions that will impact the quality and recyclability of plastic packaging, and support waste management schemes around the world, said CGF.

The development of the new coalition earlier this year builds on the CGF's 2018 endorsement of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastics Economy Global Commitment. The Coalition's vision of driving progress towards the New Plastics Economy is embodied in its four main priorities: 
• adopting plastic packaging design guidelines to reduce the amount of plastic used in packaging, and increase its value, quality and recyclability; 
• aligning on a framework for EPR programs to support the improvement and development of waste management systems worldwide; 
• supporting recycling innovations; and 
• piloting new programs in advanced and transitional markets to increase recycling rates. 

Advancing on their first priority, Coalition members have finalized the first two of a series of "Golden Design Rules" for the design of plastic packaging which are designed to accelerate progress towards their aim of using less and better plastic. These rules aim to help reduce the complexity of the recycling process for different types of materials, thereby increasing recycling rates. These first two focus on increasing the value of PET bottle recycling and removing problematic elements from packaging, such as carbon black, PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and EPS (expanded polystyrene), which complicate the recycling process. Consumers will be able to see the impact of these changes as everyday products such as single-use bottles, toiletries, household cleaning supplies, food wrappers and take-away containers will be packaged in materials that can be recycled more easily.

Coalition members from around the world, representing more than 10% of the global plastic packaging market, have committed to adopting these rules wherever possible by 2025. These commitments come after identifying and prioritising opportunities in their packaging portfolios where they can make targeted and valuable impact. They also commit to reporting on their implementation of the rules through a simple process aligned with Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastics Economy Global Commitment reporting. Details of what these first two rules entail and which members have adopted them are available on the Coalition's website.

Additionally, Coalition members have released a new position paper, "Building a Circular Economy for Packaging: A View from the Consumer Goods Industry on Optimal Extended Producer Responsibility," which provides a framework for the development and implementation of EPR programmes around the world. Recognising that the industry can't achieve a circular economy working on its own, the Coalition supports the development of EPR programmes as a way to help facilitate industry and government collaboration on improved waste management. Coalition members will be able to use this framework to guide their engagement with markets around the world and help provide effective support for local recycling schemes. The paper is available for download on the Coalition's website.

These actions on both Design and EPR are overseen by the Coalition's leadership. The Coalition is sponsored at the CGF Board level by Alan Jope, CEO, Unilever, and Galen Weston, executive chairman, Loblaw Companies Limited. The Steering Committee is co-chaired by Barry Parkin, chief procurement and sustainability officer, Mars, Incorporated, and Robert Nicol, VP of corporate affairs, Walmart Canada.

"We must urgently take action to stop plastic waste and move to a circular model. This is the number one priority for us as a Coalition. No one business can achieve this on its own, which is why we've joined forces to drive change across our own industry and to hopefully set an example for other sectors,” said Jope.

The 36 member companies of the Plastic Waste Coalition includes Colgate-Palmolive, GSK, Henkel, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health, Kao Corporation, L'Oréal, Procter & Gamble, Reckitt Benckiser, SC Johnson, Unilever PLC, Walgreens Boots Alliance  and Walmart, among others.

The Consumer Goods Forum Coalition of Action on Plastic Waste was founded in 2020 with the aim of developing a more circular approach to the development and processing of plastic packaging in the consumer goods industry. The development of the Coalition builds off the CGF's 2018 endorsement of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastics Economy.