News and Insights

Reduce, reuse, recycle – fine, but are we actually?

August 13, 2025

Plastic makes up 80% of marine litter while 79% of global plastic waste ends up in landfills where it can take between 450 and 1,000 years to break down. Only 9% of all plastic ever produced has been recycled. Although that is shocking, it is unfortunately unsurprising.

Encouragingly, recent initiatives by government bodies and the retail sector show growing momentum in addressing the plastic problem and advancing circular solutions.

According to the 2022 OECD Global Plastics Outlook, the amount of global plastic waste in aquatic environments is on track to more than triple by 2060 and, under current policies, recycled plastics will make up only 12% of all plastics.

A subsequent 2024 OECD report describes the industry’s business-as-usual approach as “unsustainable” and argues that only strict policies – focused on reducing plastic production and boosting recycling rates – can ensure that any increase in plastic consumption is matched by an equivalent rise in recycled plastic production.

A step in the right direction

Right now, there is what is hoped to be a landmark session in Geneva that aims to agree a way forward to regulate and properly manage the full life cycle of plastics – from design and production through to disposal. The UN’s Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) provides an opportunity for countries across the world to translate climate commitments into actionable strategies.

With proposals including caps on virgin plastic production, stricter controls on additives like PFAS, and the implementation of extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes, the outcomes of this session are expected to significantly shape the industry’s future. These developments will lay important groundwork for advancing the circular economy.

The industry’s response

Much of the industry has already taken a proactive approach to such regulatory pressures by integrating sustainability and the circular economy into their core operations. The retail sector, for example, is taking a proactive role. With backing from the UK Government and WRAP, nine of the UK’s leading retailers have issued a joint Statement of Intent outlining their commitment to integrating reusable packaging across both in-store and online operations.

Supported by DEFRA and DAERA, the statement proposes an interoperable system designed to make shopping for prefilled items more accessible and convenient for consumers. This collaborative effort aims to drive widespread consumer participation and achieve a significant reduction in single-use packaging across the UK by 2030.

Known as The Reuse Packaging Partnership, the group aims to offer brands, manufacturers and suppliers an opportunity to engage directly with its members. The Partnership actively encourages more UK retailers and stakeholders across the value chain to become part of the initiative and, in so doing, become part of the solution to the escalating plastic pollution crisis.

The reality is that the climate crisis is a vast problem built upon a groundwork laid by small failures. Through persistent inaction from world leaders, business executives, or everyday consumers, we are cultivating a worsening situation as a global community – one that will only improve through collective and proactive action. Agreements made at events such as the INC-5.2 and on-the-ground partnerships facilitated by the retail industry showcase the true strength of collaboration. Through united efforts, the circular economy can move from concept to reality – not just in the UK, but for the world at large.

Explore how FINN Partners can support your journey toward a circular economy. Connect with our Sustainability and ESG team to drive real impact.