Accelerating reuse models to achieve a world free of plastic waste

The World Economic Forum’s Consumers Beyond Waste initiative is driving a shift towards reuse models through the standardization of measurement and is elevating reuse as a critical aspect of the UN agreement on plastic pollution. Half of global plastic production is for single-use and only 14% of plastic packaging is collected for recycling; reliance on recycling alone will not solve the waste problem. The World Economic Forum’s Consumers Beyond Waste initiative is working with partners to rapidly scale reuse models that will eliminate plastic waste. Currently, half of global plastic production is for single-use and only 14% of plastic packaging is collected for recycling. Research shows that reusing just 10% of plastic products would reduce the amount of plastic waste reaching the ocean by 50%. The initiative has been championing reuse since January 2019 and has brought together leading start-ups, consumer companies, nonprofits and governments to pave the way for responsible consumption and sustainable shopping models. These forward-thinking approaches have disrupted major industries such as food, beverage, and personal and home care. Half of global plastic production is for single-use and only 14% of plastic packaging is collected for recycling; reliance on recycling alone will not solve the waste problem. The production of plastic also increases carbon emissions since it is a by-product of petroleum and it impacts health, with microplastics recently found in human blood.