Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Six years in, Plastics Pacts are a proven model for tackling plastic pollution, and uniquely placed to inform and support in implementing a Global Plastics Treaty. This is one of the key findings of a new Policymaker Briefing, published today to coincide with the fourth round of negotiations for a UN treaty to end plastics pollution. The Plastics Pact Network, convened by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and WRAP , connects national and regional initiatives around the world to implement solutions towards a circular economy for plastic. Thanks to Plastics Pacts: - Tens of billions of problematic or unnecessary plastic items have been eliminated - Design for reusability, recyclability and composability in practice and at scale has increased by 23% - Incorporation of recycled content back into packaging has increased by 44%. Find out more about how Plastics Pacts are uniquely placed to inform and support in implementing a future Global Plastics Treaty at national level here: https://lnkd.in/eaqEejht

On Thursday 25th April, Valérie Boiten, the Foundation’s Senior Policy Officer, will be taking part in EU Environment and Climate’s panel ‘The Future of Textile Industry: Competitive, Sustainable and Circular’ at Hannover Messe where she will discuss the global flows of used garments, and the opportunities for a shared direction of travel towards a circular economy for textiles. Watch the livestream on the 25th at 14:30 - 15:30 BS here: https://lnkd.in/g4SdZvRR

In Ottawa, Canada, our Plastics and Finance Executive Lead Rob Opsomer moderated a discussion yesterday on the importance of global rules and sustainable financing in the treaty to shape a future free from plastic pollution. The event set the scene for the imminent start of the fourth round of negotiations for a UN treaty to end plastic pollution. Joining Rob on-stage were: Anne Beate Tvinnereim, Minister for Development Cooperation, Norway, who spoke about what governments need to support the private sector to deliver on the global ambitions to end plastic pollution. Ellen Martin, Chief Impact Officer, Circulate Capital, who elaborated on what the financial sector is calling for at the fourth round of negotiations. Hein Schumacher, CEO, Unilever, who touched on why Industry needs global rules in the Global Plastics Treaty. Mani Vajipey, Co-Founder & CEO, Banyan Nation, who shared why a treaty with global rules would create new market opportunities for companies like his. Find out more about the Foundation’s role in the negotiations for Global Plastics Treaty here: https://lnkd.in/ebA3KrBR

How can the circular economy contribute to industrial decarbonization? The circular economy offers solutions to some of today’s most pressing challenges, and in our latest paper we explore its contribution to industrial decarbonization. The US has committed to a goal of net zero GHG emissions by no later than 2050, and for net emissions to fall by 50% to 52% below 2005 levels by 2030. Industrial decarbonization is crucial to the US achieving these targets. Circular economy strategies can play a crucial role, by helping to deliver the systemic transformations in production and consumption patterns needed to increase the value created from the energy, labor, and emissions invested in products and materials. Explore the paper, launched today, to learn how a circular economy in the US can create economic and climate benefits and support industrial innovation, national security, and supply chain security: https://bit.ly/4d9chMj

Yesterday the Foundation joined key stakeholders at the “Demystifying Reuse” event in Ottawa, Canada, to dive deeper into the topic of reuse. Through participatory, challenge-based discussions including a panel-based quiz, the event invited attendees of the fourth round of negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty to explore their knowledge, attitudes and perspectives on reuse. At the event our Global Treaty Manager Marta Longhurst also shared insights from the Foundation’s recent ‘Unlocking a Reuse Revolution’ study, alongside Systemiq’s @Yoni Shiran . The study, which showed that returnable plastic packaging has the potential to achieve meaningful environmental benefits compared to single use, further highlights the importance regulations play to unlock barriers to scale for reuse. Speaking on the importance of reuse for a UN Plastics Treaty were also Gonzalo Guaiquil from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Chile, James Smith from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in the UK and Adalberto Maluf, from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Brazil. The event was co-organised by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and University of Portsmouth - with the support of the Governments of Chile and the United Kingdom and participation of Bopaq , Common Seas , Friendlier , Kenyan National Waste Pickers Welfare Association, Muuse , Perpetual, University of California, Berkeley , UC Santa Barbara , and WWF . Find out more about the Foundation’s role in the negotiations for a UN treaty to end plastic pollution here: https://lnkd.in/g9QHnRif

We know that doing less harm is not good enough. Our current take-make-waste linear economy is fast exceeding the limitations of our planet. We need to redesign our economic system so that it is regenerative by design rather than degenerative by consequence. Find out more about how an urgent transition to a #circulareconomy can place us back within planetary boundaries – and keep us there: https://lnkd.in/eqngQytz #EarthDay

On World Creativity and Innovation Day, Es Devlin explores how art can make complex topics accessible, engage new audiences, and help us reimagine what is possible to shape a better future. "It's been proven by endless studies that people's behaviour doesn't change from being given facts, so much from how you feel". Watch artist Es Devlin and author Francesca Gavin discuss the role art and culture can play in catalysing change in society and accelerating the transition to a #circulareconomy

As we near the beginning of the fourth round of negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty, we urge Member States to strengthen obligations and measures on reuse, which is essential to reduce plastic pollution. Reuse and other alternative business models offer one of the biggest opportunities to cut plastic pollution, while lowering emissions and pressure on natural resources. The treaty has a vital role to play in scaling reuse, by setting reuse definitions and including measures to harmonise reuse design standards, system infrastructure, and by developing robust and comprehensive reuse metrics. These measures combined with Governments’ incentives and financial support to make the economics work will level the playing field and set the right enabling conditions for scaling reuse models globally. Find out more about the importance of reuse for a Global Plastics Treaty: https://lnkd.in/ezUdDDVW

A total of 160 financial institutions representing 15.5 USD trillion in combined assets have signed the Finance Leadership Statement on Plastic Pollution, ahead of the fourth round of negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty starting next week in Canada. The Statement aims to amplify the finance sector’s voice during the upcoming negotiations, calling on governments to establish an ambitious policy framework to support the private finance sector in taking action to beat plastic pollution. It includes calls for for a treaty to: a) be supported by binding rules and obligations for governments to address the full life cycle of plastic, b) be based on a scientific approach c) create the framework to align all economic participants with its objectives. The Finance Statement on Plastic Pollution is a joint initiative of the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) , The Principles for Responsible Investment , Finance for Biodiversity Foundation, Business For A Plastics Treaty , the Dutch Association of Investors for Sustainable Development and CDP Find out more: https://lnkd.in/egS4ju7p #FinanceStatement #BeatPlasticPollution #SustainableFinance #PrivateFinance #INC4

#BusinessNeedsGlobalRules Global rules help us reduce, reuse, and redesign. Global rules scale solutions, spark innovation, and mobilise investment. So let’s adopt global rules to end plastic pollution. In advance of the fourth round of negotiations (INC-4) starting next week in Ottawa, Canada, the +200 members and endorsers of the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty are calling for a legally binding treaty that is underpinned by harmonised regulations in order to tackle the entire lifecycle of plastic products. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/dXdshYRf #PlasticsTreaty #INC4 #Biz4PlasticsTreaty