Press Release
For immediate release

CIWM Joins the Official Launch of the UK Packaging Pact

The official launch of the UK Packaging Pact took place yesterday at Sustainable Ventures. Created by WRAP, the ten-year collaborative programme brings together nearly 100 organisations to transform the UK's packaging system into a sustainable, circular operation.

As the successor to the world-first UK Plastics Pact, this new voluntary agreement expands its remit to all packaging materials. CIWM is proud to be a founding signatory and a member of the Steering Group shaping this initiative. The Pact identifies four interconnected goals: optimising packaging, scaling reuse and refill, supporting infrastructure investment, and harmonising data.

The launch arrives at a critical juncture for the sector. At a time of major regulatory change with EPR, DRS, and Simpler Recycling, the Pact will serve as an exclusive mechanism to help businesses and regulators ensure reforms are effective and workable in practice.

Dan Cooke, Director of Policy, Communications and External Affairs at CIWM, said: "CIWM is pleased to be a founding signatory of the UKPP, which has secured an impressive range of brands, retailers, packagers, policy makers and thought leaders in its active coalition. Its objectives are clear and our sector will be keen to see progress against delivery in all areas of optimised packaging with greater recycled content, scaling up reuse and refill to enhance resource efficiency, better data and reporting and, in particular, significantly increased investment in UK recycling and reprocessing infrastructure.

Large parts of the UK’s recycling markets and infrastructure have been largely failing for the past decade and more, due to a heady combination of poorly designed and often unrecyclable composite packaging, challenging economics, and a lack of clear incentivising policy support. The UKPP has a clear opportunity to enable closer engagement between packaging sector players and recycling service providers, and to identify real opportunities for investment in better packaging and more UK recycling infrastructure.

CIWM’s members are experts and practitioners throughout this value chain, and we look forward to actively supporting UKPP’s progress."

In its first year, the Pact will focus on identifying material reduction opportunities and providing policy advice on mechanisms to incentivise investment in critical recycling infrastructure. A specific area of focus will be addressing the technical challenge of non-recyclable multi-material films, a key hurdle for circularity. This activity will lead to the publication of a definitive packaging roadmap in early 2027, setting the stage for a "supermarket of 2035" where all packaging is integrated into a high-performing circular economy.

ENDS

More information:
For more information on the UK Packaging Pact, please visit: UK Packaging Pact | WRAP - The Waste and Resources Action Programme.

About CIWM:
CIWM (the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management) is the leading professional body for the resource and waste management sector representing over 8,000 individuals in the UK, Ireland and overseas. Established in 1898 - and now in its 125th year - CIWM is a non-profit making organisation, dedicated to the promotion of professional competence amongst waste managers. CIWM seeks to raise standards for those working in and with the sector by producing best practice guidance, developing educational and training initiatives, and providing information on key waste-related issues.

Press contact:
Kacie Foskett, Brand Marketing & Communications Manager
T: +44 (0) 1604 620426
E: kacie.foskett@ciwm.co.uk