The U.S. Plastics Pact released Roadmap 2.0, its latest strategic plan to help companies change how they use, design, and reuse plastics. The plan focuses on practical steps for creating a circular economy where plastic packaging is recycled, reused, composted and used sustainably instead of becoming waste. 

The pact brings together not-for-profit organizations, businesses, government agencies, and research institutions to rethink the circular economy for plastics in the U.S. Many enterprise companies are a part of this pact, including L’oreal USA, Walmart, Coca-Cola, and Nestle. 

Nestle plans to invest up to $2 billion in this effort, and investment firm Closed Loop Partners is contributing its expertise as circular economy investors to lead the shift from virgin plastics to sustainable plastics. 

The new roadmap for the U.S. Plastics Pact may present new deal flow opportunities for impact investors in private equity, private credit, and public equity markets as there are likely beneficiary companies that focus on sustainable plastic production, packaging, recycling, and related supply chains. 

Let’s explore the U.S. Plastics Pact Roadmap 2.0 in detail. 

What is the U.S. Plastics Pact? 

Launched in 2020 as part of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Global Plastics Pact Network, the U.S. Plastics Pact is the first plastics pact in North America. It is led by the Recycling Partnership, with the support of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). 

The pact aims to ensure that:

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  All the problematic or unnecessary list of plastic packaging will be eliminated by 2025. 
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  Make all the plastic packaging 100% recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.
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  Undertake bold actions to recycle 50% of plastic packaging by 2025 effectively. 

To fulfill the above goals, the U.S. Plastics Pact made an initial roadmap that outlines the key requirements, rules and milestones companies need to follow in order to use plastics in an environmentally friendly way. However, to build on its successes and lessons learned from the roadmap, the U.S. Plastics Pact Activators have released a new roadmap called Roadmap 2.0. 

Effective targets of Roadmap 2.0

Roadmap 2.0 begins where its initial Roadmap ends. Below are five of its effective targets: 

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  The activators have made reuse a primary target. With a focus on reuse, the pact aims to reduce reliance on single-use plastics substantially. 
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  All the plastic packaging will be manufactured and designed to be reusable, recyclable, and compostable. 
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  All the items on the expanded Problematic & Unnecessary Materials List will be eliminated, and virgin plastic will be reduced by 30% by 2030.
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  The roadmap aims to recycle 50% of plastic packaging and establish the necessary infrastructure to achieve it on a scale. 
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  The new roadmap also addressed the social impacts and disparities related to plastic use and production. 

“With Roadmap 2.0, we're taking what we have learned and succeeded to the next level, focusing on innovative solutions and addressing broader impacts. We are committed to working collaboratively with our Activators and stakeholders to make these targets a reality.” said Emily Tipaldo, Executive Director of U.S. Plastics Pact. (source)

Next Steps

The U.S. Plastics Pact Roadmap 2.0 will begin to take effect on January 1, 2026. With its 18-month advance release, the advisors have ample time to prepare for the bold goals mentioned in the document. 

While you're here…

The U.S. Plastics Pact may present opportunities for impact investors. Companies that are a part of this pact may gain traction for supporting the circular economy for plastic packaging, recycling, and re-use. 

However, identifying opportunities early presents a significant data challenge for private credit and equity firms. This is an area where Auquan can help. 

Auquan uses advanced AI to generate material insights on any entity worldwide — public or private — and fine-tuned for your individual investment and lending workflows.

Let’s explore how Auquan can help you and your team eliminate tedious and time-consuming manual data work and focus more on what you do best: making strategic decisions ahead of the market.