The U.S. Plastics Pact has announced Roadmap 2.0, the organisation’s second actionable plan to combat the growing plastic packaging waste problem.
Roadmap 2.0 aims to help companies transform how they design, use and reuse plastics to create a circular economy for plastic packaging.
The plan aims to optimise the initial Roadmap to 2025, outlining ambitious targets to combat plastic packaging waste and drive transformative change across the entire value chain.
Emily Tipaldo, Executive Director of the U.S. Plastics Pact, explained: “The current reliance on virgin plastics is unsustainable. Roadmap 2.0 aims to make a tangible difference by changing how we design, use, and reuse plastics.
“The focus is on practical, achievable steps companies can take to contribute to a circular economy.”
“Roadmap 2.0 is not just a continuation; it’s an evolution. Our initial targets were intentionally ambitious to spark rapid change.
“With Roadmap 2.0, we’re taking what we have learned and succeeded to the next level, focusing on innovative solutions and addressing broader impacts. We are committed to working collaboratively with our Activators and stakeholders to make these targets a reality.”
Plastic waste progress
The original Roadmap to 2025 was a bold initiative designed to prompt immediate action in the absence of a federal strategy.
Over the past four years, the U.S. Plastics Pact has made considerable strides in enhancing plastics circularity.
One significant achievement is the reduction in the use of problematic or unnecessary plastics, which has dropped from 14% to 8% thanks to the implementation of a Problematic & Unnecessary Materials List.
Additionally, the Pact has increased the proportion of plastic packaging that is reusable, recyclable, or compostable from 37% to 47.7%.
Efforts to incorporate more sustainable materials have also seen progress, with the amount of post-consumer recycled or responsibly sourced biobased content in packaging rising from 7% to 9.4%.
The Pact’s community has grown substantially as well, expanding from 62 to over 130 dedicated members.
Goals of Roadmap 2.0
The new roadmap will begin on January 1, 2026, providing activators with 18 months to prepare for its new objectives.
Roadmap 2.0 will drive forward unfinished plastic packaging waste targets of the initial plan and introduce new targets.
Reuse is a vital target of the new plan, such as reducing single-use plastic through innovations like returnable cup systems at events.
The plan also aims for all plastic packaging to be designed and manufactured to be reusable, recyclable, or compostable.
Tackling problematic plastics is another key target, with all items on the expanded Problematic & Unnecessary Materials List to be eliminated and virgin plastic use reduced by 30%.
Roadmap 2.0 has also set the ambition of recycling 50% of plastic packaging and establishing essential infrastructure, with plastic packaging achieving an average of 30% post-consumer recycled or responsibly sourced biobased content.
The plan also looks to address social impact and disparities related to plastic production and use.
