The Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF) has been a driving force behind the transition to a circular economy for plastics for over a decade. Since 2018, more than 1,000 organizations have given their backing to the Global Commitment, led by the Foundation in partnership with the UN Environment Program, to stop plastic packaging from becoming waste.
The initiative is the largest voluntary effort to tackle plastic pollution and waste, representing 20% of global plastic packaging production. At Borealis, we have been signatories of the Global Commitment since 2018, and we fully share the EMF’s vision.
Progress so far, and the road ahead
Now in its sixth year, the 2024 Global Commitment Progress Report highlights both the progress achieved so far and the challenges that remain. It demonstrates the power of collective action—signatories have significantly outperformed their peers in addressing plastic waste and have collectively avoided 9.6 million metric tons of virgin plastic since 2018—but it has also shown that voluntary action alone is not enough. The reality is that current waste management infrastructure cannot keep up with the global volume of plastic waste—let alone the growth expected in the years to come.
Three key insights stand out:
The collective efforts of signatories have driven substantial progress.
Despite these advances, plastic pollution remains a growing challenge that demands urgent action.
The way forward is clear: binding global policies and accelerated business initiatives are essential.
Photo: Project STOP waste collection and sorting in Indonesia - © Project STOP
Project STOP: a scalable blueprint for change
One initiative highlighted in the report is Project STOP—a program Borealis co-founded with Systemiq in 2017. Project STOP tackles mismanaged waste in Indonesia by working alongside national and local governments to establish affordable circular waste systems for households and institutions.
Since it began, Project STOP has delivered waste collection services to nearly 450,000 people in Indonesia, created close to 300 full-time jobs in the waste management sector, and collected over 72,000 metric tons of waste, including nearly 10,000 metric tons of plastic. This approach offers direct benefits to local communities and the environment, and also serves as a scalable blueprint for sustainable waste management systems. Three city projects have already been transferred to local authorities and expansion is underway across the entire Regency of Banyuwangi, East Java.
Advancing circularity across the plastics lifecycle
We’ve also been driving progress closer to home. Through our integrated circular approach, we work with partners across the value chain to advance circularity at every stage of the plastics lifecycle—from utilizing alternative feedstocks, to supporting design for eco-efficiency, reuse, and recycling, and closing the loop with advanced mechanical and chemical recycling technologies.
In 2023, we expanded our total production capacity for circular solutions to 195,200 metric tons, marking a 32% increase from 2022. This capacity includes circular polyolefins and chemicals, such as olefins, based on recycled content and biobased or renewable feedstocks.
Challenges on the path to 2030
Yet, even with our best efforts, meeting our future circularity targets will be challenging. Regulatory uncertainties around the use of recyclates and biobased plastics, along with broader challenges for the plastics industry, particularly in Europe, are impacting demand for recycled polymers.
These challenges are echoed on a global scale. The EMF report reveals that Global Commitment signatories as a whole are unlikely to meet key 2025 targets, and the world remains off track to eliminate plastic waste and pollution.
A call for a globally binding treaty
In the context of this turbulent global environment, as well as the fact that 80% of the global plastic packaging market is not covered by the Global Commitment, it’s clear that binding global policy is essential alongside voluntary action.
From 25 November to 1 December 2024, global representatives will convene in Busan, South Korea, for INC-5, the final round of talks to secure a UN treaty based on legally binding global rules to end plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. These negotiations represent a pivotal, once-in-a-generation opportunity to tackle plastic pollution at its roots.
At Borealis, we were among the first supporters of the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, convened by EMF and the World Wildlife Fund, and we strongly advocate for a global treaty that establishes a clear direction and level playing field for all stakeholders.
Alongside these efforts, the entire value chain must continue working together to drive circular solutions forward and lay the groundwork for a future where plastic no longer pollutes our environment.
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