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Knowledge category: Papers and reports

Flexible packaging: The urgent actions needed to deliver circular economy solutions

Updated on 19.09.2023

This work aims to support organisations in achieving their goals linked to a circular economy for plastics by providing a practical direction forward for flexible packaging, with a focus on business-to-consumer flexible packaging across sectors.

Author: Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Year of publication: 2022

More information

Eliminating and innovating away from single-use flexible packaging must be the first and foremost part of any flexible packaging strategy – this is because as soon as single-use flexible waste is generated, regardless of material or geography, it is very hard to deal with. Current efforts are only just scratching the surface and a step-change in the level of commitment and effort across direct elimination of unnecessary packaging and exploration of upstream innovation solutions, such as reuse, is required from all stakeholders.


For single-use flexible packaging items that cannot currently be eliminated without unintended consequences, unprecedented efforts are required to ensure they can be circulated. This can include staying with a conventional plastic and scaling recycling system, or substituting to a different material (such as paper or compostable plastics where relevant) and then scaling those systems. Either way, what is clear is that unless simultaneous, unprecedented efforts across packaging design, infrastructure and policy are begun immediately – efforts that push far beyond the level of activity we are currently seeing – the circulation of flexible packaging in practice and at scale is unlikely to occur in the foreseeable future. While they are currently a necessary part of the solution, the inherent quality and yield limitations of recycling and substitution strategies mean that staying with single-use flexible packaging will always present a challenge from a circular economy perspective. Therefore, we need to keep driving a strong upstream innovation agenda (in line with the first part of the overarching strategy) to find ways to eliminate ever-increasing single-use flexible packaging over time.


This work consists of a flexible packaging strategy summary, executive summary and deep dives into key topics and actions. The strategy summary provides a concise overview of the overarching flexible packaging strategy and identifies 21 urgent actions and three geographic archetypes. For each solution, key actions required from business, policy makers and collaborative cross-sector initiatives are presented. For more details and specificity for the key actions, as well as the full insights and analysis that underpin them, deep dive documents are available here.

Relevance for Circular Systemic Solutions

This work is relevant for cities and regions working on a Circular Systemic Solution that involves plastics and packaging, as they can learn how to support local industry and businesses, and facilitate the transition to a circular economy for plastics across relevant sectors.

Sectors

CEAP2 key product value chain

e.g. re-use of public spaces and facilities in urban areas