Suggested instruments/options and resources to support governments in delivering the commitments under the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment
Launched in 2018, the New Plastic Economy Global Commitment unites business, governments, and other organisations, from around the world behind a common vision and a set of 2025 targets to address the problem at its source. It is led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in collaboration with UNEP.
Under the Global Commitment, government signatories commit to take actions and reports tangible progress by 2025 in 6 specific areas. The following are suggested instruments/options and resources to support governments in delivering the commitments.
A. Stimulating the elimination of problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging and/or products
Suggested instruments/ options to achieve the commitments
- Establishment or strengthening of legal measures, including bans or restriction on specific categories of plastic packaging and/or products considered problematic or unnecessary
- Establishment or strengthening of economic incentives (e.g. subsidies, funding schemes to encourage innovation and research into alternative materials or designs) or disincentives (e.g. tax, charges)
- Establishment or strengthening of Extended Producer Responsibility schemes
- Changes to public procurement to support products without problematic or unnecessary plastic
- Provision of reliable packaging and/or product information to consumers
- Encouragement of voluntary actions
- Promotion of innovation in packaging and/or product design to drive elimination of problematic and unnecessary plastic packaging and/or products
- Promotion of innovation in business models and/or other alternative solutions to drive elimination of problematic and unnecessary plastic packaging and/or products
Resources to support governments in delivering the commitments
- Legislative Guide for the Regulation of Single-Use Plastic Products
- Report on building circularity into our economies through sustainable procurement
- Report on reducing pollution and health impacts through fiscal policies – A selection of good practices
- Single-use plastics: A Roadmap for sustainability
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B. Encouraging reuse models where relevant, to reduce the need for single-use plastic packaging and/or products
Suggested instruments/ options to achieve the commitments
- Piloting or scaling up of reuse solutions/systems
- Establishment or strengthening of Extended Producer Responsibility schemes
- Establishment or strengthening of economic incentives (e.g. subsidies) or disincentives (e.g. taxes, charges)
- Changes to public procurement to support reuse solutions/systems
- Provision of reliable packaging and/or product information to consumers
- Promotion of collaboration with the private sector, including small and medium-sized enterprises, and civil society organisations
- Encouragement of voluntary actions
Resources to support governments in delivering the commitments
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C. Incentivising the use of reusable, recyclable, or compostable plastic packaging
Suggested instruments/ options to achieve the commitments
- Development or strengthening of regulations, standards or guidelines (e.g. standards for on-pack recyclability claims)
- Establishment or strengthening of economic incentives (e.g. subsidies) or disincentives (e.g. taxes, charges)
- Establishment or strengthening of Extended Producer Responsibility schemes
- Changes to public procurement
- Encouragement of voluntary actions
- Promotion of collaboration of the government with the private sector, including small and medium-sized enterprises, and civil society organisations
- Support for research and development of innovative solutions, including improve the design of products
Resources to support governments in delivering the commitments
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D. Increasing collection, sorting, reuse, and recycling rates, and facilitating the establishment of the necessary infrastructure and related funding mechanisms
Suggested instruments/ options to achieve the commitments
- Investment in infrastructure
- Promotion of collection, sorting, reuse and/or recycling schemes (e.g. deposit return schemes)
- Establishment or strengthening of economic incentives (e.g. subsidies) or disincentives (e.g. taxes, charges)
- Establishment or strengthening of Extended Producer Responsibility schemes, with collection and recycling targets
- Provision of reliable packaging and/or product information to consumers
- Establishment or strengthening of recycling guidance and standard on plastic packaging and/or products
- Encouragement of voluntary actions
- Promotion of collaboration with the private sector, including small and medium-sized enterprises, and civil society organisations
- Promotion of the formalization of the informal sector through policies, incentives and training
Resources to support governments in delivering the commitments
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E. Stimulating the demand for recycled plastics
Suggested instruments/ options to achieve the commitments
- Support for products containing recycled plastics through public procurement
- Establishment or strengthening of post-consumer recycled content minimum thresholds
- Establishment or strengthening of Extended Producer Responsibility scheme
- Establishment or strengthening of economic incentives (e.g. subsidies) or disincentives (e.g. taxes, charges)
- Encouragement of voluntary actions
- Provision of reliable packaging and/or product information to consumers
- Promote collaboration with private sector, including small and medium-sized enterprises, and civil society organisations
Resources to support governments in delivering the commitments
- Report on building circularity into our economies through sustainable procurement
- Report “Can I Recycle This? A Global Mapping and Assessment of Standards, Labels and Claims on Plastic Packaging”
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F. Supporting social and behavior change through strategic communication to address plastic pollution
Suggested instruments/ options to achieve the commitments
- Join Clean Seas campaign and adapt it to local context
- Set up specific communication products / campaigns to promote desired behaviour changes
Resources to support governments in delivering the commitments
- Clean Seas campaign materials. Contact cleanseas@un.org for further information and support
- Report “Can I Recycle This? A Global Mapping and Assessment of Standards, Labels and Claims on Plastic Packaging”
- Guide to help the sports community address plastic pollution: Plastic Game Plan for Sport
- Report "Reducing Plastic Pollution Campaigns That Work"
- Report " Next Steps: Tackling Plastic Litter - A Nudging Strategy for Reducing Consumption of Single-Use Disposable Cups"
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Additional resources/tools:
- UNEP-IUCN national guidance on plastic pollution hotspotting and shaping action (This can be particularly helpful in supporting the estimation of quantitative baselines for many of the commitment areas under the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment)
- Addressing Marine Plastics: A Systemic Approach – Recommendations for Actions
- Addressing Marine Plastics. A Roadmap to a Circular Economy
- Life Cycle Assessment studies on single-use plastic products
- Life Cycle Approach to Plastic Pollution - Life Cycle Initiative
- UNEP Beat Pollution website
- From Pollution to Solution: a global assessment of marine litter and plastic pollution