Henkel signs commitment towards circular economy

The major German consumer goods player, active across personal care, home care and adhesive technologies, is participating in the New Plastics Economy.

This is an initiative led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, which aims to bring stakeholders together to ‘rethink and redesign’ the way we use plastics, and to build momentum towards a circular economy.

Henkel is one of 250 organisations that have signed the New Plastics Economy’s Global Commitment to eliminate plastic waste and pollution at the source. The German personal care player says that the commitment ties in with its already established efforts in the area of sustainable packaging.

What is the ‘Global Commitment’?​

The New Plastics Economy Global Commitment is led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, in collaboration with UN Environment, and was officially unveiled at the Our Ocean Conference in Bali.

Signatories include many of the world’s largest packaging producers, brands, retailers and recyclers, as well as governments and NGOs. The overall aim is to create ‘a new normal’ for plastic packaging, according to its organisers.

What are its targets?​

Key targets of the Global Commitment include:

• Eliminate problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging and move from single-use to reuse packaging models

• Innovate to ensure 100% of plastic packaging can be easily and safely reused, recycled, or composted by 2025

• Circulate the plastic produced, by significantly increasing amounts of plastics reused or recycled and made into new packaging or products

“The Global Commitment follows a clear vision of a circular economy for plastic which is in line with Henkel’s approach and targets for sustainable packaging​,” says Henkel.

Indeed, the company has said that by 2025, 100% of its packaging will be recyclable, reusable or compostable. Within the same timeframe, Henkel aims to use 35% recycled plastic for its consumer goods products in Europe.

The company has made clear a commitment to working with other stakeholders and partner organisations in this area: “To drive innovation in packaging development and promote improved recycling infrastructure, Henkel is collaborating with a variety of partners – progress toward sustainable packaging will only be possible if organizations from across industries and along the value chain work together​,” the company asserts.