Transparent 2023 Annual ReSource: Plastic Progress Report

The Transparent 2023 report details the plastic footprints of nine ReSource Member companies in 2022, noting a total of 5.10 million metric tons of plastic sold to retailers and consumers. While the use of recycled content increased to 12.0% of the aggregate portfolio, the report highlights that 87.9% of plastic remains derived from virgin fossil-based inputs. Progress in eliminating problematic plastics (PS, PVC, and small plastics) has slowed, though they now make up 1.2% of portfolios compared to 3.2% in 2018. The report emphasizes the need for a transition from reuse pilots to scaled deployment and advocates for a legally binding UN global treaty to address the systemic nature of plastic pollution.

• ReSource Members reported a total of 5.10 million metric tons of plastic in 2022 sold to retailers and consumers or discarded in-house, with an additional 2.16 million metric tons sold business-to-business.
• The aggregate use of recycled content among Member companies increased from 10.2% in 2021 to 12.0% in 2022, though virgin fossil-based inputs still dominate at 87.9% (6.37 million metric tons).
• Problematic plastics—defined as polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and small plastics—decreased from 3.2% of Member portfolios in 2018 to 1.2% in 2022, although volumes of PVC and PS increased for some members between 2021 and 2022.
• Based on WWF's waste management model, 15% of the plastic footprint of ReSource Members is estimated to be mismanaged, while 42% is landfilled, 34% is recycled, and 9% is incinerated.
• All nine ReSource Members are exploring reuse models, but most efforts remain at the pilot scale; The Coca-Cola Company reported delivering 14% of its total beverage volume in reusable packaging in 2022.
• Biobased content remains a very small portion of the aggregate portfolio at 0.3% in 2022, though it accounts for nearly 21% of all small plastics.
• The report identifies a significant gap in waste management data, noting that the lack of updated, polymer-specific data makes it difficult to assess the effectiveness of collective action efforts.
• WWF advocates for a legally binding UN global treaty on plastic pollution, expected to be enacted in 2025, as a necessary mechanism to drive systemic transformation beyond voluntary corporate action.

APA

WWF International (2023). Transparent 2023 Annual ReSource: Plastic Progress Report. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/313/4urk9obdqa_WWF_Transparent_2023_FINAL_12.08.23.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. Transparent 2023 Annual ReSource: Plastic Progress Report. 2023. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/313/4urk9obdqa_WWF_Transparent_2023_FINAL_12.08.23.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Transparent 2023 Annual ReSource: Plastic Progress Report |date=December 2023 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/313/4urk9obdqa_WWF_Transparent_2023_FINAL_12.08.23.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2023transparent, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{Transparent 2023 Annual ReSource: Plastic Progress Report}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2023}, month = dec, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/313/4urk9obdqa_WWF_Transparent_2023_FINAL_12.08.23.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }