Ecostore has signed ‘A Line in the Sand – a Global Commitment’ to eradicate plastic waste and pollution at the source.

Ecostore is one of 250 organisations that has signed the new 2018 Global Commitment, including many of the world’s largest packaging producers, consumer brands, retailers and recyclers, as well as governments and NGOs.

The initiative is led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, in collaboration with the UN Environment. Signatories include companies representing 20 per cent of all plastic packaging produced globally.

The Global Commitment aims to create ‘a new normal’ for plastic packaging. Targets will be reviewed every 18 months and become increasingly ambitious over the coming years. Businesses that sign the commitment will publish annual data on their progress to help drive momentum and ensure transparency.

Ecostore has signed and pledged to put in place policies and enable conditions to support the Global Commitment’s targets and vision.  As part of its commitment Ecostore has outlined its ambitious set of targets in the fight to beat plastics pollution. These targets include:

• 100 per cent of plastic packaging to be reusable or recyclable by 2023.
• By 2025, 100 per cent of the bottles in Ecostore’s range are made from renewable or recycled content.
• Move from single-use to reuse packaging models by increasing the sales of bulk packs (via refill stations and consumer purchase) with 140 per cent growth in units over five years.
• Continue to invest in responsibly managed renewable sources (sugarcane biobased plastic, currently this sits at 80 per cent) across all its packaging between 2018 and 2025.
• Set up a packaging return scheme where plastic packaging will be returned and reused as recycled content – volume to be collected to grow year on year.

Ecostore said the new plastic targets build on the company’s existing quarter of a century long commitment to making its packaging more sustainable – primarily through investing in sugar biobased plastic, increasing recyclability and reducing single use options. These targets are part of its broader commitment to minimising the environmental impact of its business.

Pablo Kraus, managing director of Ecostore, said the company is a firm supporter of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and the extensive work being done through the New Plastics Economy initiative.

“Sustainability has been at the very core of our business since our beginnings and we therefore take our responsibility regarding packaging very seriously. We see it as critical that Ecostore is part of the concerted response to address today’s plastics challenge. We agree, it is essential that businesses step up as leaders in this space and drive change.

“As a business we are committed to addressing both the plastic source and waste issues. We are also committed to using sustainable, renewable raw materials and ingredients in our products. As such, since 2014, we have been using sugar biobased plastic to make our packaging. We will continue to invest in this responsible, renewable sourcing approach over the coming years.”

Dame Ellen MacArthur, founder of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, said: “We know that cleaning up plastics from our beaches and oceans is vital, but this does not stop the tide of plastic entering the oceans each year. We need to move upstream to the source of the flow. The New Plastics Economy Global Commitment draws a line in the sand, with businesses, governments and others around the world uniting behind a clear vision for what we need to create a circular economy for plastic.

“This is just one step on what will be a challenging journey, but one which can lead to huge benefits for society, the economy and the environment. I encourage all businesses and governments to go further and embark on a race to the top in the creation of a circular economy for plastic. One in which this material never becomes waste or pollution.”