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WRAP has confirmed the first 53 organisations to sign the UK Packaging Pact, a new ten-year voluntary agreement set to launch in April 2026 and replace the UK Plastics Pact.

The new pact expands the focus from plastics to all commonly used packaging materials. It will involve companies across food and drink, beauty, pet care and household goods, as well as retailers, recyclers and industry bodies. Founding signatories include ASDA, Arla, Haleon, Lidl, Yeo Valley, GoUnpackaged, PackUK, Biffa, SUEZ Recycling Recovery UK and Veolia.

The programme aims to redesign packaging to reduce waste and emissions, increase reuse and fully integrate packaging into a circular economy. It will support businesses as major reforms – including packaging extended producer responsibility (EPR), Simpler Recycling and deposit return schemes – roll out.

WRAP said the pact will focus on four goals: optimising packaging, scaling reuse and refill, supporting investment in circular infrastructure, and harmonising data to improve traceability.

WRAP CEO Catherine David, said: “Collaboration works and it’s delivering real change. Unrecyclable black plastic is gone, recycling is rising and unnecessary packaging is disappearing. But the scale of the challenge demands more. Plastic pollution remains a global crisis, and with the failure to secure a global treaty, the need for bold, systemic action has never been greater."

"We must accelerate the step change to circular living, driving reuse, tackling plastic film and enabling the impact of upcoming recycling reforms. This is collective action at its most ambitious and essential, and WRAP is proud to lead the charge toward a truly circular future.”

Circular economy minister Mary Creagh added: “Government and businesses must ensure packaging is used time and time again. Our new extended producer responsibility scheme will turbocharge this shift to more sustainable packaging. I pay tribute to the 53 world-leading companies who have signed up to the UK Packaging Pact and pledged to go further and faster in delivering greener packaging.”

The UK Packaging Pact builds on the UK Plastics Pact, launched in 2018, which is now nearing completion. A progress report published today shows:

• 99.9% of problematic plastics eliminated

• 80% of polystyrene and PVC removed

• 726 million problematic items removed ahead of bans

• 36,000 tonnes of hard-to-recycle packaging phased out

• 70% of plastic food packaging now reusable, recyclable or compostable

• Plastic recycling up to 53%

• Recycled content increased from 8.5% to 28%

WRAP is continuing discussions with major brands, retailers and manufacturers across sectors ahead of the pact’s full launch next year.