WRAP and World Economic Forum join forces to tackle plastic pollution globally

17 Mar 2022 --- The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and the World Economic Forum’s Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) have announced a formal partnership agreement to address the global issue of plastic waste. The partners will support the Plastics Pacts Network and Global Plastic Action Partnerships around the world. 

The organizations plan to combine their knowledge, experience and resources to jointly tackle plastic pollution. Their goal is to double both their impact and reach. 

WRAP says it shares the same goals as GPAP and combining different expertise will enable the parties to find a common approach to addressing plastic pollution. 

The two organizations are now working with local partners in Ghana, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, Indonesia and Vietnam and plan to further expand their work worldwide. 

WRAP and GPAP are planning to combine their knowledge, experience and resources to tackle plastic pollution. Combined leverage 
WRAP is renowned for its experience of operational and technical expertise in managing a complex plastics initiative spanning government and business sectors, working with citizens and organizations alike to agree a shared approach to change.

Meanwhile, GPAP brings business, government, and civil society together in coalition to create a “real, measurable impact” on plastic pollution action toward a circular economy. 

The organizations also say they are keen to leverage the benefit that working together will bring.

“WRAP has supported the development of Plastics Pacts on every populous continent on the planet and we see first-hand the value in tackling this issue collaboratively, across supply chains and across nations,” notes Marcus Gover, WRAP’s CEO.

“This partnership with GPAP will enable us to collectively accelerate our impact on tackling plastic waste across the globe.”

Kristin Hughes, GPAP’s director, adds: “The GPAP-WRAP partnership demonstrates the importance of organizations coming together in the direct planning, coordination and delivery of plastic waste pollution interventions, both at the global and national level.”

“The partnership will allow us to break down patchwork interventions and to collaborate, share and implement best practices of keeping plastic in the economy and out of the environment.”

“Our joint knowledge, expertise and experiences will harness how we identify legislative, policy and business practice solutions to the plastic pollution challenge. I look forward to seeing the positive impact this partnership will have on a global scale as we transition towards a more circular world.”

Global plastic pollution treaty
Relatedly, UN member states unanimously agreed to develop a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution at the recent UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya.

However, as negotiations on the terms of this historic treaty commence, divisions are forming between environmental NGOs and industry bodies around the flexibility of its implementation. 

Meanwhile, a recent WRAP report has suggested that plastic packaging does not necessarily extend the shelf life of some uncut fresh produce items.

By Natalie Schwertheim

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