27 Apr. 2025: Plastics play a vital role in modern life, such as protecting food and helping to reduce food waste. But where plastic use harms the environment, urgent action is needed.

UK Plastics Pact members - who represent two-thirds of all consumer plastic packaging used in the UK - are committed to eliminating, as far as possible, plastic items that are problematic or unnecessary.

When the Pact launched in 2018, eight plastic items were prioritised for elimination. This initial list helped members get ahead of regulatory bans and led to the removal of billions of problematic plastic items from sale or distribution.

As the Pact evolves, so does the Elimination List - reflecting advances in technology and the latest evidence. Following a robust review and consultation with members, eight new plastic items have been added for phased removal by 2025 and 2027.

Key takeaways

• 33 billion problem plastic items have been removed by UK Plastics Pact members
• Eight new plastics added to the Elimination List for phased removal by 2025 and 2027
• Aligned with Simpler Recycling in England, ensuring non-recyclable or disruptive materials are phased out where viable mono-material alternatives exist
• Ongoing work on 16 plastics still under investigation

The 8 new problem plastics set for elimination
This third iteration of the Elimination List extends beyond the 2025 deadline, supporting Simpler Recycling in England by phasing out materials that cannot be recycled or disrupt recycling processes.

Items 1-6 should be removed by the end of 2025, and items 7-8 by the end of 2027, as far as possible.

1. Non-NIR detectable plastics e.g. non detectable black plastic
2. Silicone components
3. Flexible non-compatible multi-material plastic packaging should be moved to mono-material polyolefins for:
   1. Crisp packets
   2. Pet food
   3. Chocolate, sweets, snack bars, cakes and biscuit wrappers
   4. Pouches for cereals, nuts and seeds
   5. Liquid dishwasher and laundry tabs
   6. Grated cheese
   7. Dry pasta, rice and grain
4. Natural and clear PET trays with PE liners
5. Wet wipes with plastic content
6. Disposable vape
7. Flexible non-compatible multi-material plastic packaging should be moved to mono-material polyolefins for:
   1. Block cheese
   2. Cooked meat
   3. Long life and bake at home bread
   4. Tea and coffee
   5. Microwaveable pouches for baby food, pasta, rice and grains
8. Packaging with glass or metal components

Changes you will see on shelf - Pact member action
Consumers will continue to see packaging changes as businesses take action. The latest UK Plastics Pact Annual Report details progress from major brands, including Waitrose & Partners, Co-op, Mondelez, KP Snacks, Britvic, Danone, Hilton, Haleon, PepsiCo, Lidl, and Premier Foods.

Read more in our Annual Report for 2023-24

The original elimination list

1. Disposable plastic cutlery
2. Disposable plastic plates and bowls
3. Plastic straws
4. Cotton buds with plastic stems
5. Plastic stirrers
6. Household Polystyrene Packaging
7. Oxo-degradable plastic products
8. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) packaging
9. Plastic wrapping for multi-sales of tins, bottles, and cartons
10. PVC cling film
11. Non-compostable fruit / veg stickers
12. Non-compostable tea and coffee bags
13. Single use, single serving plastic sachets / jiggers in restaurant settings
14. Plastic packaging for uncut fresh fruit & vegetables, unless it is demonstrated to reduce food waste