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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.

The document argues that fragmented national approaches to plastic pollution are insufficient and calls for coordinated international trade-related action. It proposes a framework for categorizing single-use plastics based on their environmental impact and technical feasibility of substitution. Key recommendations include developing common guiding criteria for 'problematic' plastics, implementing trade-related control measures such as import/export bans and tariffs, and promoting eco-design and non-plastic substitutes. The brief highlights the roles of the WTO's Dialogue on Plastics Pollution (DPP) and the International Negotiating Committee (INC) for the plastics treaty as primary vehicles for this cooperation, while also suggesting the involvement of the WCO and ISO to improve trade transparency and standards.

The report highlights that the true lifetime cost of plastic is 8 times higher in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) than in high-income countries (HICs), primarily due to higher waste mismanagement rates and subsequent marine ecosystem damage. It identifies three structural inequities: the lack of influence LMICs have over global production, their limited waste management capacity, and the absence of accountability mechanisms for producers. To address this, WWF calls for a global treaty with binding rules on production bans, circular design standards, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes.

The document summarizes the outcomes of the WWF Plastic Policy Summit held in March 2023. It argues for an urgent shift from a linear to a circular economy through a full life cycle approach to plastic, emphasizing the need for immediate action before the 2025 global treaty negotiations. The report identifies nine strategic interventions, ranging from reducing virgin plastic production to expanding deposit return systems, and provides specific policy and operational recommendations for federal, state, and local governments, as well as the private sector. A central theme is the prioritization of environmental justice to protect communities historically burdened by plastic production and waste.

The authors highlight the systemic health and environmental risks of plastic, from fossil fuel extraction to waste, specifically noting the dangers of PVC and DEHP in healthcare and the disproportionate impact of plastic manufacturing on marginalized communities and workers. They call for an ambitious global treaty to reduce production and for the Canadian government to phase out hazardous chemicals and single-use plastics.

The author assesses the INC-2 negotiations in Paris, noting that while procedural delays occurred, a majority of governments aligned with the vision for comprehensive binding rules across the plastic lifecycle and global bans on high-risk materials. The text emphasizes the need for a circular economy, the role of the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, and the specific responsibility of the US to reduce its disproportionately high waste generation ahead of the INC-3 meeting in Nairobi.

The report examines 93 unique plastic pollution reduction measures notified by nearly 70 WTO members. It finds that prohibitions on single-use plastics and import restrictions on plastic waste are the most common tools. The analysis highlights a lack of product diversity in current bans and suggests that WTO members could benefit from enhanced transparency, geographic expansion of successful measures, and the exploration of new thematic areas beyond common single-use items.

The report establishes a framework to categorize plastic products into 17 core groups based on their properties, use patterns, and pollution risks. It prioritizes these groups using a risk-based analysis (probability of environmental entry and resulting impact) and further classifies them into Class I (feasible for elimination or significant reduction by 2035) and Class II (requiring safe circulation and management). The findings suggest that while some single-use items and intentionally added microplastics can be eliminated, others—such as medical packaging and fishing gear—require management-focused controls due to technical or socioeconomic constraints.

The report finds a significant 'value-action gap' in Bangkok households, where high reported commitment to waste sorting does not match the fact that 75% of household waste is thrown out as trash. Organic waste is the primary contributor to this gap, comprising 90% of waste discarded as trash. The study highlights that economic incentives and collective action are the strongest drivers of behaviour, while a lack of knowledge on composting and perceived futility when municipal collectors mix waste act as barriers. The authors recommend prioritising organic waste management, integrating informal waste workers into formal systems, and implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to address economic barriers to recycling.

The WTO Dialogue on Plastics Pollution, launched in November 2020 and co-sponsored by 75 members, seeks to align international trade policies with global efforts to reduce plastic pollution. The Dialogue operates through three workstreams: crosscutting issues (transparency and capacity building), promoting trade in sustainable technologies and substitutes, and fostering circularity and reduction. Key priorities include improving the Harmonized System (HS) for better trade data, integrating plastic pollution into the Aid for Trade initiative, and coordinating with other international frameworks like the Basel Convention and the UNEA's legally binding instrument on plastic pollution.

The report highlights the high energy and feedstock intensity of the EU's plastic production industry, noting its significant reliance on Russian fossil fuels. It argues that reducing plastic production, particularly packaging, is a critical but overlooked lever for enhancing EU energy security and meeting climate goals.

The document examines the rise of 'greenwashing' litigation related to plastics, where companies are challenged over misleading claims about recyclability, biodegradability, and corporate sustainability. It details a proliferation of class actions in the US and Canada, NGO-led challenges in the EU and US, and increasing enforcement by regulators like the FTC and CMA. The briefing also identifies an emerging 'second generation' of lawsuits brought by shareholders who allege financial losses resulting from deceptive environmental statements.

The document examines the increasing legal vulnerability of companies regarding plastic leakage into the environment. It highlights significant settlements for plastic pellet spills in the US and Europe, the potential for lawsuits against consumer brands and producers for macroplastic waste, and the role of economic losses—such as those in the fishing and tourism industries—in driving future strategic litigation.

The author asserts that the plastic industry is set to double production by 2030 while only 9% of plastic has been recycled globally. The text highlights how companies like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo use voluntary targets to mask a lack of progress and lobby against deposit return systems in the US. Additionally, it criticizes European supermarkets for a lack of transparency regarding their plastic footprints and for employing greenwashing tactics to avoid systemic change.

The document advocates for a shift from voluntary agreements to mandatory EU regulations to tackle microplastic pollution. It emphasizes reducing virgin plastic production and implementing sector-specific bans and design requirements for pellets, textiles, tyres, and agriculture. The authors argue that addressing both macro and microplastics is essential, as the degradation of larger plastics continues to fuel microplastic pollution.

The 2021 progress assessment of the Blue Manifesto reveals that most targets are not being met, with only one of eight 2021 milestones on track for full completion. The report highlights significant gaps in the implementation of Maritime Spatial Plans, the failure to eliminate bycatch of sensitive species, and a general lack of ambition in the Council of Ministers regarding fisheries control. While some progress is noted in the EU's Emissions Trading System and international biodiversity negotiations, the overall outcome for 2020 was revised to be more negative, indicating that current EU efforts are insufficient to meet the ambitions of the EU Green Deal and Biodiversity Strategy 2030.

The report finds that European supermarkets generally exhibit low transparency and ambition regarding plastic reduction, often relying on voluntary commitments and recycling-focused strategies rather than systemic reuse. An analysis of 74 retailers reveals an average total score of only 13.1%, with significant disparities in performance between different countries where the same retail chains operate. The document highlights tactics used by retailers to delay legislative progress, such as lobbying against deposit return systems (DRS), and criticizes 'greenwashing' practices, including the mislabeling of single-use plastics as reusable.

The report reveals a significant gap between the public communications of European retailers and their actual performance in reducing plastic pollution, with a global average score of only 13.1% across transparency, commitments, and policy support. While some retailers like Aldi in the UK and Ireland score higher, the majority fail to provide basic data on their plastic footprints or support mandatory reuse targets. The analysis highlights a systemic preference for voluntary commitments and recyclability over waste prevention and reuse, while warning against 'greenwashing' practices such as exporting flexible plastics to third countries like Turkey where they may be illegally burned.

The report finds that European supermarkets generally exhibit low ambition and transparency regarding plastic pollution, with a global average score of only 13.1%. Most retailers prioritize recyclability over waste prevention and reuse, often relying on voluntary commitments and 'greenwashing' tactics rather than systemic changes. While some UK and Irish retailers score higher, there is significant inconsistency within international groups, and very few support binding government targets or comprehensive deposit return systems.

The report finds that European supermarkets generally perform poorly in managing plastic pollution, with a mean score of 13.1% across transparency, commitments, and policy support. While some UK and Irish chains like Aldi score higher, many others show minimal transparency and a preference for voluntary commitments over systemic changes like reuse and mandatory deposit systems. The analysis highlights instances of greenwashing, where plastic waste collected in stores was exported and illegally dumped in Turkey.