The UK Packaging Pact is the successor to The UK Plastics Pact which was a trailblazer for a global network of Pacts now operating on every continent.
Building on seven years of delivery and collaboration, the Pact now focuses on breaking the most stubborn system barriers, enabling investment, and accelerating circular packaging to create a system fit for the future.
Policy reforms such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Simpler Recycling, and the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) will be game-changing, but legislation alone won’t deliver a fully functioning circular packaging system. The Pact enables businesses to go further, faster, together - aligning design, infrastructure and data to unlock impact across the value chain.
Launching April 2026.
Our vision: Better packaging for people and planet.
Our mission: To accelerate the shift to a circular packaging system by championing material optimisation and traceability, reducing dependence on virgin resource, scaling reuse models and extending the lifecycle of materials.
UK Packaging Pact Webinar: Tuesday 14 October
We’re excited to share with you what we’ve been working on so in this webinar we’ll share the Pact’s vision, mission, and four goals, dive into success measures, and explain WRAP’s role alongside what will be expected of members.
You’ll also have the chance to ask questions and share your thoughts. If your organisation is part of the UK packaging system - from design and manufacturing to retail and recycling - join our webinar to find out more.
The four goals
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Goal 1. Optimise Packaging
Eliminate problematic and unnecessary materials, increase recycled content, reduce virgin non-renewable resource use, and design for circularity.
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Goal 2. Scale Reuse & Refill
Build interoperable, standardised systems and citizen-friendly reuse models at scale.
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Goal 3. Support Circular Infrastructure Investment
Unlock and direct investment to close gaps in UK collection, sorting, recycling and reprocessing capacity.
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4. Harmonise Data
Simplify reporting to reduce data burdens and improve traceability for more impactful decision-making.
Why join the Pact?
- Lower costs - every £1 invested delivered £5.23 in benefits, including £27m in savings* (UK Plastics Pact results).
- Direct voice to government - influence future regulation and shape EPR.
- Accelerate systems change - collective action to overcome barriers to circularity.
- Policy advantage - WRAP aligned with and supported by PackUK.
- Regulatory readiness - practical support on Simpler Recycling, PPWR, and EPR.
- Apply best practice & implement faster - curated guidance, benchmarks, and hands-on support.
- Pre-competitive collaboration - share insights on common issues to accelerate innovation.
*Based on WRAP cost–benefit analysis of the UK Plastics Pact.
Our Plastics Pact membership has been the cornerstone of our packaging reduction strategy, providing us with useful insights into the right choices for alternatives and connecting us with industry players dealing with similar issues to work collaboratively on a solution.