The U.S. Plastics Pact released its annual progress report, detailing how 2024 data from participating brand owners, packaging companies and related organizations stacks up against the group’s 2030 targets.
“What encourages me most isn’t any single data point; it’s the mindset shift I’m seeing,” USPP CEO Jonathan Quinn said in the report. Participants are “rolling up their sleeves—testing new designs, working with recyclers, rethinking old assumptions, and taking on the practical challenges that come with real progress.”
Participating companies — a number that fluctuates and today totals more than 90 — previously had been working toward goals that USPP originally set in 2021, with targets pegged to 2025. The group released an updated strategy, Roadmap 2.0, in mid-2024 with nearly identical targets pegged to 2030. Previously, USPP had stated work toward the new targets would begin in January 2026.
Participants collectively did not achieve the 2025 targets, USPP confirmed via email, and Roadmap 2.0 indicates the updated timelines necessary to meet the goals.
While this week’s new report reflects progress toward the revised 2030 targets, the previous version of the report had a different benchmark that evaluated progress against the original 2025 targets.
The new report also highlights some key actions from 2025, such as USPP publishing a position paper on chemical recycling. Last year marked a turning point for USPP, with the focus shifting from foundational work to execution, according to the report.
“As we move into this next phase, our job is to stay focused on what actually moves the system: clearer design signals, stronger end markets, smarter infrastructure, and cross-sector collaboration that doesn’t break down when the work gets tough,” Quinn said in the report.
Priorities in 2026 include developing a list of chemicals that should be removed from packaging; developing an initiative to increase film recycling; and releasing a report about the Reuse in Retail initiative.
These are some key stats about progress toward Roadmap 2.0 targets, per USPP’s 2024 data:
54%
The portion of plastic packaging that participants placed on the market that is reusable, recyclable or compostable. That’s up from 50% in 2023. The target is for 100% to be designed as such by 2030.
14%
The average postconsumer recycled content or responsibly sourced biobased content in participants’ packaging portfolios. That’s up from 11% in 2023. The target is 30% by 2030.
29%
The proportion of participants that did not sell any items on USPP’s problematic and unnecessary materials list. That’s up from 22% in 2023. The goal is 100% by 2030.
