Australian-based multinational Amcor has become the first global packaging company to pledge that all of its packaging will be recyclable or reusable by 2025.
In making the commitment, Amcor joins ten leading brands and retail companies – most of them Amcor customers - in collaboration with the UK-based Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF), which estimates the companies together ‘influence’ more than six-million metric tons of plastic packaging each year.
“Our aspiration is to be the leading global packaging company," says Amcor CEO Ron Delia. "That means winning on behalf of the environment, customers, consumers, shareholders and our people at the same time, in ways that differentiate Amcor and generate growth.”
Speaking from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Rob Opsomer of EMF says Amcor’s pledge is notable but there is more that can be done to make packaging recyclable and reusable.
“Amcor being the first global packaging company to commit to working toward 100-percent recyclable or reusable packaging by 2025 is an important milestone towards creating a circular economy for plastics,” said Opsomer, who leads EMF’s Systemic Initiatives. "The company’s commitment and expertise will be instrumental in supporting the growing group of brands and retailers that have set similar targets for themselves.”
U.K.-based EMF’s mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to a circular economy, in which plastics and other resources are used over and over. Amcor is the only packaging company among core partners to EMF and the foundation’s New Plastics Economy initiative.
Amcor’s 35,000 employees generate more than US$9 billion in sales from operations that span 200-plus locations in more than 40 countries.