The U.S. Plastics Pact has introduced Roadmap 2.0 to promote sustainable plastic usage.
Goals include reducing single-use plastics, promoting reuse, and effective recycling.
Implementation begins on January 1, 2026, to establish a circular economy for plastics.
U.S. Plastics Pact Unveils Roadmap 2.0 for Sustainable Plastic Usage
The U.S. Plastics Pact in Walpole, New Hampshire, has released its latest strategic plan to help companies change how they design, use, and reuse plastics in their packaging. Roadmap 2.0 is an actionable plan aimed at transforming the use of plastics and creating a circular economy where plastic packaging is reused, recycled, composted, and kept within the economy.
The comprehensive plan builds on the successes and lessons learned from the initial Roadmap to 2025 and sets updated and ambitious targets to address plastic waste and drive systemic change across the entire plastics value chain.
“The current reliance on virgin plastics is unsustainable,” says U.S. Plastics Pact Executive Director Emily Tipaldo. “Roadmap 2.0 aims to make a tangible difference by changing how we design, use, and reuse plastics. The focus is on practical, achievable steps companies can take to contribute to a circular economy.”
Since the launch of the original roadmap, the U.S. Plastics Pact has made significant progress in plastics circularity, including:
A reduction in the use of problematic or unnecessary plastics from 14 percent to 8 percent.
An increase in the amount of reusable, recyclable, or compostable plastic packaging from 37 percent to 47.7 percent.
An increase in post-consumer recycled or responsibly sourced biobased content in packaging from 7 percent to 9.4 percent.
An expansion of the U.S. Plastics Pact from 62 to more than 130 dedicated Activators.
The introduction of the PCR Procurement Toolkit, PCR Certification Principles, and the Design for Circularity Playbook, which will be published this summer.
Building on these advancements, Roadmap 2.0 is designed to carry forward the unfinished targets from the original plan and introduce new objectives based on the experiences of U.S. Plastics Pact Activators, including:
Reuse Innovations: Making reuse a core target to significantly reduce single-use plastics.
Design for Circularity: Ensuring all plastic packaging is designed and manufactured to be reusable, recyclable, and compostable.
Elimination of Problematic Plastics: By 2030, all items on the expanded Problematic & Unnecessary Materials List will be eliminated, and virgin plastic will be reduced by 30 percent.
Effective Recycling: Aiming to recycle 50 percent of plastic packaging and establish the necessary infrastructure to achieve this at scale.
Health and Community Impact: Addressing the social impacts and disparities related to plastic production and use.
“Roadmap 2.0 is not just a continuation; it’s an evolution,” Tipaldo says. “Our initial targets were intentionally ambitious to spark rapid change. With Roadmap 2.0, we’re taking what we have learned and succeeded to the next level, focusing on innovative solutions and addressing broader impacts. We are committed to working collaboratively with our Activators and stakeholders to make these targets a reality.”
The organization continues to work as part of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Plastics Pact Network and other global initiatives to harmonize efforts and share best practices. Roadmap 2.0 emphasizes the importance of action, cross-sector collaboration, and innovation to achieve these goals.
Roadmap 2.0 begins on January 1, 2026. By releasing it 18 months in advance, the organization provides its Activators ample time to prepare for these new challenges and objectives. The roadmap will continue fostering a culture of trust, transparency, and collaboration, ensuring its efforts are aligned and impactful.
