Food and plastics networks unite in global effort to cut waste

Representatives from 15 countries met in Mexico this week for Pact Connect 2025, a three-day programme focused on addressing the issue of broken food systems and the spiralling environmental cost of plastic pollution and waste.

The gathering, convened by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), marked the first time two established networks - 13 international Plastics Pacts run in conjunction with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and 11 Food Pacts - met as one to share experiences and strengthen collaborative efforts on tackling these waste issues.

"The numerous Pacts are the engine rooms driving forward a new circular economy for plastics and food," said Harriet Lamb, CEO WRAP. "They give me hope that we can correct the failures of our food and plastic systems. They show that ahead of securing global intergovernmental agreements at scale, companies, NGOs and governments can get behind voluntary action as an agile and effective front runner along the road to transformation."

Scale of the Pact Networks

The Pacts represent collaborative action initiatives formed by private and public sector organisations, charities and NGOs within each country. Representatives from the Pact Secretariats joined investors and philanthropic organisations to co-design solutions to tackle both food and plastics challenges, with a focus on generating practical steps to tackle plastics pollution within the 19 countries comprising the Plastics Pact Network, and share more widely to address food waste and loss in the 10 countries encompassing the Food Pact Network.

"The Plastics Pacts have proved that such a network can deliver real impact towards eliminating plastic waste and pollution," said Marta Longhurst, Pacts and Field-building Lead Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

Highlighting the impact in territories that the initiatives have been operating she added: "Thanks to Plastics Pacts, tens of billions of problematic or unnecessary plastic items have been eliminated; design for reusability, recyclability, and compostability in practice and at scale has increased by 23 per cent; and incorporation of recycled content back into packaging has increased by 44 per cent."

Pact Networks model to deliver change

The Pact Network model creates systemic change through several key mechanisms:

• Collaborative platforms bringing together businesses across the full value chain, government bodies, NGOs and stakeholders at national level
• Development of shared roadmaps and strategies aligned with common vision and targets
• Transparent annual reporting showing progress against targets
• Over 70 working groups addressing key challenges related to plastics across the globe
• Production of over 100 guidance documents, tools, reports and research findings
• Focus on inclusive recycling models incorporating informal waste sector workers

"Pact Network Connect is a key event when many countries can share experiences, foster regional collaboration, and strengthen our global partnerships," said Alejandra Kopaitic, Directora Consumo y Producción Sustentable y Pacto Chileno de los Plásticos. "We are here to listen, learn, and collaborate, while showcasing the work we are doing in Chile and aligning our goals with international experience and best practices."

The meeting built on learnings from the first Plastic Pact Network meeting in South Africa in 2024, which inspired bringing together both Food and Plastics Pacts to amplify impact. The gathering had added urgency given the lack of agreement on key elements for a global treaty to end plastic pollution at INC5 negotiations in Busan 2024.

The Pacts' efforts focus on two primary actions regarding packaging: transitioning to reuse and refill systems where possible, and ensuring that necessary plastic packaging is designed for end-of-life, being suitable for recycling or composting. Together with eliminating problematic items, this creates a more streamlined and 'cleaner' waste stream with greater value for collection, increasing effective recycling.

Infrastructure development is fundamental to safely circulating materials in the economy and keeping them out of the environment. In a report published by the Plastics Pact last year, the initiative illustrates how facilitated discussions between stakeholders across the value chain, from packaging producers to recyclers, can enable significant developments in mechanical recycling. This includes achievements such as the development of the first post-consumer food-grade PP plant with FDA approval in the UK.

A key focus has been creating demand for recycled plastics to replace virgin polymer, with businesses signalling to the market the need for increased investment in collection and recycling infrastructure. This market development has shown impressive results - in countries such as Poland, use of recycled content has increased by 80 per cent within three years of data reporting. In South Africa, there has been a 60 per cent increase in recycled primary consumer packaging over the same period.

Significantly, the Pacts recognise and work with informal waste pickers as key stakeholders in the plastics value chain. With over 2.4 million informal waste pickers in Plastic Pact countries, informal waste sector associations are Pact members in South Africa, Kenya, Chile and India. This has enabled the schemes to address major challenges faced by the informal waste collection and recycling sector, helping raise their voice with businesses and governments, and supporting transition to new systems.