Reflecting on the UK Plastics Pact: Progress and ongoing challenges
The morning sessions highlighted how far the UK Plastics Pact has come. WRAP emphasised measurable progress in:
- Increased recycled content
- Greater design-for-recyclability
- Improved understanding of system-wide impacts
However, key challenges remain:
- Need for UK-wide consistency
Collection systems still vary significantly, affecting consumer behaviour, recycling performance, and investment planning. (See WRAP’s resources for further detail: https://wrap.org.uk)
- Complexity of material choices
Businesses continue to face difficult trade-offs between recyclability, carbon impact, performance and cost.
- Infrastructure investment gaps
The scale of investment required to expand reprocessing capacity remains a major barrier.
These insights align with wider policy developments, including:
This policy uncertainty is already shaping strategic decisions across supply chains.
Introducing the new UK Packaging Pact
WRAP outlined key details for the UK Packaging Pact, which will significantly broaden the programme beyond plastics.
Timeline
- Signatory enrolment: November 2026 – April 2027
- Official launch event: April 2027
Scope and focus areas
The new Pact will aim to:
- Optimise packaging across all materials
Moving beyond plastics to create a holistic framework for sustainability.
- Improve and harmonise packaging data
One of the strongest themes of the day—businesses need coherent, consistent data to meet regulatory and commercial demands.
- Support investment in circular infrastructure
Including reprocessing, reuse systems and future-fit logistics.
- Accelerate reuse and refill adoption
Reflecting growing interest from retailers and regulators.
Material Flow vs Data Flow: A priority for WRAP
WRAP is particularly focused on data mapping exercises, including the relationship between material flow and data flow, and where these two diverge.
This aligns directly with the work we undertake through PackFlow, where our reporting provides visibility of:
- Actual material movements
- Data quality gaps
- Flow inconsistencies
- Opportunities for harmonisation
- System improvements essential for compliance and circularity
Discussions will continue regarding how our expertise can support the Data Harmonisation workstream of the new UK Packaging Pact.
How PackFlow can support UK Packaging Pact objectives
PackFlow’s existing reports, available on our dedicated website, already provide the UK’s most robust and widely used insights into packaging flows. If you haven’t yet explored them, you can visit our PackFlow website for more information.
Our work supports:
- Improved material flow visibility
- Enhanced producer data quality
- Evidence-based policy design
- Accurate modelling to support EPR, deposit systems and future reforms
We also support internal teams and external programmes by mapping exactly where material and data flows align, and where they do not.
For readers needing more context on obligations, our internal guidance is available on the Packaging Producer Responsibility section of the Valpak website.
Conclusion and call to action
The transition from the UK Plastics Pact to the broader UK Packaging Pact marks a significant moment for packaging sustainability. With stronger emphasis on system-wide data, harmonisation, and multi-material optimisation, businesses will need reliable evidence and clear insights to meet future expectations.
PackFlow is already positioned to support this evolution.
Visit our PackFlow website to explore existing reports and insights.
Get in touch to discuss how we can support WRAP’s Data Harmonisation work, or how we can help your organisation understand its material flow and data flow challenges.
