Amcor is pledging to make all of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025 joining ten other brands and retail companies making the commitment with the Ellen Macarthur Foundation (EMF).
The company says it is the first global packaging company to make the commitment and it will also commit to increasing its use of recycled materials and driving more recycling of packaging. It also says most of the other companies undertaking the pledge are Amcor customers, with the EMF estimating the businesses together ultimately influence more than six million metric tons of plastic packaging each year.
Amcor’s move is the latest action by the industry to take plastic out of the supply chain, while single use plastic bags will soon not be given away by Coles and Woolworths, Harris Farm has already stopped them.
Ron Delia, CEO of Amcor says, “Our aspiration is to be the leading global packaging company. 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.”
[Related: Amcor profits grow, sales slip]
Delia also says most of Amcor’s packaging is already developed to be recyclable and reusable and designed to use less material, although some of the biggest challenges to recyclable and reusable packaging remain and will be overcome with innovation in partnership with customers, suppliers, government agencies, NGOs and others.
Rob Opsomer, leader of Systemic Initiatives at EMF says “Amcor being the first global packaging company to commit to working toward 100 per cent recyclable or reusable packaging by 2025 is an important milestone towards creating a circular economy for plastics. 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.”
The UK 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.
Delia says, “The people who make up our global team are inspired by ambitious goals,” he said. “They are capable, creative, and committed to building a great business and making a difference.”
Amcor was established in 1860 and currently employs 35,000 people, making more than US$9bn in sales of operations. It operates in 43 countries.
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