American Plastics Pact Releases Annual Report: Strategic Focus Shifts to Implementation, Phased Progress Achieved for 2030 Circularity Goals
In January 2026, the U.S. Plastics Pact (USPP) released its annual progress report, which details the practical data of participating enterprises in 2024 toward the 2030 circular economy goals. The report notes that 2025 has emerged as a critical "turning point" for the Pact’s work, with its focus fully shifting from initial infrastructure development and planning to the implementation and promotion of concrete solutions.
In the report, Jonathan Quinn, CEO of the USPP, emphasized that the most notable shift extends far beyond the data itself, but rather a "mindset change" across the entire industry. He stated that participants are "rolling up their sleeves" to tackle the complex challenges of driving genuine progress by testing new designs, strengthening partnerships with recyclers, and challenging long-held assumptions.
This report marks the first comprehensive assessment by the USPP following the release of its updated strategy Roadmap 2.0 in June 2024. As the originally set 2025 targets were not fully achieved, the Pact has extended the achievement deadline to 2030, while refining and updating the targets themselves. Roadmap 2.0 incorporates material-specific post-consumer recycled (PCR) content targets, officially implements a list of "problematic and unnecessary materials", and adds new targets for reusable packaging systems.
Key Progress Data (Based on 2024 Figures)
Circular design: 54% of plastic packaging launched by participants onto the market features reusable, recyclable or compostable design, an increase from 50% in 2023. The target is to reach 100% by 2030.
Recycling and bio-based content: The average proportion of post-consumer recycled or responsibly sourced bio-based content in packaging portfolios stands at 14%, up from 11% in 2023. A 30% share is targeted by 2030.
Phase-out of problematic materials: 29% of participants have completely ceased selling items on the list of problematic and unnecessary materials (e.g., non-detectable pigments such as carbon black), a rise from 22% in 2023. The goal is to achieve a full phase-out by 2030.
Priorities for 2026 Action
The USPP has outlined a number of key action plans for 2026, including: issuing updated technical design guidelines for packaging; launching a new source reduction workflow to support signatories in eliminating and redesigning packaging to cut virgin plastic use; and releasing a position paper on composting infrastructure and policy drivers.
The U.S. Plastics Pact is part of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s global New Plastics Economy initiative network.
Quinn concluded: “Progress is real, but it does not happen automatically. Achieving large-scale circular outcomes still requires greater coordination and investment.”
Source: Recycled Materials - Kunyu Space
