WRAP has named the first 55 organisations to sign up to the new UK Packaging Pact, as the environmental NGO prepares to launch the landmark ten-year initiative in April 2026.
Positioned as the successor to the UK Plastics Pact, the new voluntary agreement widens the focus to all materials commonly used in packaging, and the range of sectors involved in the new programme.
Backed by PackUK and supported by the UK government, the UK Packaging Pact sets out to overhaul how packaging is designed, used, collected and recycled, embedding circular-economy principles more deeply into everyday products. WRAP said the Pact represents “collective action at its most ambitious”, arriving at a pivotal moment as major regulatory reforms – Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Simpler Recycling and Deposit Return Schemes – come into force.
A broader, more ambitious pact
Unlike the Plastics Pact – launched in 2018 and focused primarily on plastic packaging within food and drink – the new UK Packaging Pact widens its scope to every commonly used packaging material and a broader sweep of sectors including beauty, household goods, pet care and FMCG.
WRAP CEO Catherine David said the scale of the challenge demanded bolder and more systemic action.
“Unrecyclable black plastic is gone, recycling is rising, and unnecessary packaging is disappearing. But the scale of the challenge demands more,” she said. “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.”
David added that the Pact would accelerate efforts on reuse, tackle issues around plastic film, and support businesses through the upcoming wave of recycling reforms.
Household-name signatories already on board
The founding signatories include many key players in the grocery sector: Asda, Lidl, Tesco, Ocado Retail, Arla and Yeo Valley are among the national names confirmed. Also joining are Haleon, PackUK, and sustainability innovators GoUnpackaged, alongside waste and recycling giants Biffa, SUEZ and Veolia.
Circular economy minister Mary Creagh welcomed the early sign-ups.
“Government and businesses must ensure packaging is used time and time again,” she said. Our new extended producer responsibility scheme will turbocharge this shift to more sustainable packaging. I pay tribute to the 55 world-leading companies who have pledged to go further and faster in delivering greener packaging.”
PackUK CEO Jeremy Blake said collaboration would be essential to make the transition: “No single organisation can solve the packaging challenge alone - but by pooling expertise and insights across industry and government, we can break down the barriers and accelerate the shift to truly circular packaging at scale.”
Shaping the “supermarket of 2035”
WRAP said the vision for the Pact is to “fill the supermarket of 2035 with products in minimal, efficient packaging designed for reuse”, dramatically reducing single-use materials. The initiative is built around four interconnected goals:
- Optimise packaging to reduce unnecessary materials
- Scale reuse and refill models across categories
- Support investment in circular infrastructure
- Harmonise packaging data for better traceability and decision-making
The Pact will also act as a test-bed for EPR implementation, offering feedback to regulators and giving businesses a forum to shape future regulation.
The announcement comes alongside WRAP’s latest progress update on the UK Plastics Pact, which is nearing its end. Despite global disruption and policy delays, WRAP highlighted the significant strides achieved since 2018:
- 99.9% of problematic plastics eliminated
- 80% reduction in polystyrene and PVC
- 726 million problematic items removed before bans took effect
- 36,000 tonnes of hard-to-recycle packaging phased out, saving £6.2m in anticipated EPR fees
- 70% of plastic food packaging now reusable, recyclable or compostable
- Plastic recycling rate increased to 53%
- Recycled content tripled to 28%, up from 8.5%
The Plastics Pact model has since been replicated internationally, inspiring 13 similar initiatives across 19 countries.
WRAP confirmed it is in active discussions with more manufacturers, retailers and brands ahead of the April 2026 launch.