Transparent 2022

Transparent 2022 reports on the plastic footprints of ReSource: Plastic members, highlighting a rise in recycled content to 10.2% of the aggregate portfolio and a slight decrease in problematic plastics to 1.3%. The report emphasizes the need for systemic change and policy advocacy, such as the UN global instrument to address plastic pollution, to overcome barriers like the low availability of food-grade recycled content. It details individual company progress, including significant rPET transitions by The Coca-Cola Company and Keurig Dr Pepper, and identifies North America as the region with the highest landfill rates for member portfolios.

• The aggregate plastic portfolio of ReSource Members in 2021 consisted of 4.83 million metric tons sold to retailers and consumers or discarded in-house, with an additional 2.37 million metric tons sold business-to-business.
• Recycled content in the aggregate portfolio increased to 10.2% in 2021, up from 8.0% in 2020. Among Principal Members, this figure rose from 8.1% in 2019 to 12.5% in 2021.
• Problematic plastics, defined as small plastics, polystyrene (PS), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), decreased from 1.4% of the aggregate portfolio (94,200 metric tons) in 2020 to 1.3% (91,100 metric tons) in 2021.
• WWF's waste management model estimates that 34% of the aggregate plastic footprint of ReSource Members is recycled, 43% is landfilled, 15% is mismanaged, and 9% is incinerated.
• Rigid plastics, particularly PET bottles, dominate the member portfolios, accounting for 80.6% of total plastics. PET bottles specifically make up 64.5% of the aggregate portfolio.
• North America holds the highest concentration of the aggregate plastic footprint at 37% of total tonnage and exhibits a disproportionately high estimated landfill rate of 64% (or 65% in some sections) and a low mismanagement rate of 2%.
• China is identified as the country with the highest estimated total tonnage of mismanaged waste for ReSource Members, driven by high mismanagement rates despite high PET bottle recycling rates.
• The report identifies a significant gap between corporate commitments and the actual availability of recycled materials, noting that the incentive structure keeping virgin fossil plastic inexpensive remains a key barrier.
• Member companies are encouraged to advocate for a legally binding United Nations global instrument to address plastic pollution to achieve wide-scale holistic change.

APA

WWF International (2022). Transparent 2022. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/201/9dsv7winop_WWF_Transparent_2022_FINAL_12.5.22.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. Transparent 2022. 2022. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/201/9dsv7winop_WWF_Transparent_2022_FINAL_12.5.22.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Transparent 2022 |date=December 2022 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/201/9dsv7winop_WWF_Transparent_2022_FINAL_12.5.22.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2022transparent, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{Transparent 2022}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2022}, month = dec, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/201/9dsv7winop_WWF_Transparent_2022_FINAL_12.5.22.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }