The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) has joined the ranks of leading global organisations and groups to endorse the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastic Economy commitment to make packaging more environmentally-friendly.
The Washington DC-based recycling trade association announced 31 Oct that the EMF's initiative was a “huge step forward” in the effort to create a global vision for circular economy.
“We are pleased with this effort, and we look forward to working with the foundation and their New Plastics Economy programme,” said Jaime Camara, CEO of PetStar and chair of the APR board of directors.
Signatories to the commitment include companies representing 20% of all plastic packaging produced globally.
The programme aims to eliminate “problematic or unnecessary” plastic packaging, as well as to effect a transition from single-use to reuse packaging models. Additionally, it supports innovation to ensure that 100% of plastic packaging can be easily and safely reused, recycled, or composted by 2025.
The EMF launched its latest initiative during the 2018 Our Ocean Conference, held in 29-30 Oct in Bali, Indonesia, where more than 250 companies and groups, including some of the world's largest consumer goods makers and plastics packaging firms, signed on to the plan.