Alliance to End Plastic Waste cuts 138,000T through circularity programs

GLOBAL – The Alliance to End Plastic Waste has reduced more than 138,000 tonnes of unmanaged plastic waste in 2025, expanding country programs across South Africa and the Gulf Cooperation Council region under its Strategy 2030 framework.

Under Strategy 2030, the organisation is shifting from standalone projects to larger-scale integrated Country and Thematic Programs, concentrating resources in markets with the greatest potential impact. 

Country Programs now operate in Brazil, the Gulf Cooperation Council region, India, Indonesia and South Africa. Each addresses critical gaps in collection, sorting and recycling infrastructure aligned with national priorities and is anchored by at least US$100 million in co-financing commitments. 

The Gulf and South African operations represent the Alliance’s principal engagements across the Middle East and Africa, where waste management infrastructure remains underdeveloped and financing gaps are acute. 

Localised leadership based in these markets provides the knowledge and relationships needed to work effectively with governments and partners.

Strategy 2030 Replaces Fragmented Projects with Integrated Programs

The coalition released its 2025 Progress Report this week, detailing the first year of Strategy 2030, a framework addressing systemic barriers preventing plastics circularity at scale. 

The organisation valorised 165,317 tonnes of plastic waste in 2025, bringing cumulative totals since inception to 378,147 tonnes reduced and 418,529 tonnes valorised. 

Founded in 2019 by companies across the plastics value chain, the Alliance has catalysed US$641 million in funding commitments from third parties and impact investors. 

Its education and behaviour-change initiatives have reached more than 1.5 million people, while engaging 559 organisations in 2025 alone.

Capital Mobilisation Addresses Regional Financing Gaps

Jacob Duer, president and chief executive of the Alliance, said 2025 was an important first year for Strategy 2030 as the organisation strengthened foundations for impact at scale. 

He noted that early results were visible in markets where need was greatest, but lasting impact required sustained effort and strong partnerships. 

Duer observed that mobilising capital remained one of the most significant challenges in advancing a circular economy for plastics, explaining that many projects struggled to secure affordable financing due to perceived risk, limited track records, fragmented value chains and uncertain revenue streams. 

In emerging markets across Africa and the Middle East, this financing gap is particularly acute.

Flexible Plastics Program Targets Hardest-to-Recycle Materials

Thematic Programs address cross-market barriers, beginning with flexible plastics, which account for more than half the global plastic packaging market yet remain among the hardest to recycle. 

Duer said long-term success depended on creating economically viable recycling systems that consistently produce high-quality recyclates with reliable end-markets. 

The Alliance connects governments, development finance institutions and value-chain partners to tackle barriers no single organisation can address alone.

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