Circular Packaging for Modern Procurement: Solving the Plastic Problem Profitably
(Source Credits: Voronoi by Visual Capitalist)
In 2024, we generated over 400 million tonnes of plastic waste. By 2060, it is projected that this number could nearly triple, according to OECD projections. Packaging alone contributes a staggering 156 million tonnes to that figure making it the single largest category of plastic waste.
The conversation around plastic packaging often defaults to one of blame. But from a business standpoint, it’s time we shift that narrative. This is a strategic supply chain inefficiency.
The Missed Opportunity:
Plastic is one of the most versatile and cost-effective packaging materials ever developed. It’s lightweight, durable, and scalable. But we’re managing it like a single-use liability rather than a long-term asset.
Currently, less than 20% of global plastic waste is recycled. The rest ends up in landfills, incinerators, or worse leaking into the environment. That’s more than a sustainability issue; it’s a glaring failure in resource utilization and material recovery.
Every tonne of unrecovered plastic packaging represents:
A missed opportunity for cost savings through recycled content integration.
A lost hedge against the rising price and regulatory risk of virgin plastic.
A gap in a company’s ability to meet climate and ESG commitments.
The Business Case for Circular Packaging:
As regulations tighten globally and consumer scrutiny sharpens, businesses are being forced to look beyond aesthetics and shelf appeal. Today, packaging needs to work harder: it needs to be functional, recoverable, and reputationally safe.
Forward-looking brands are already shifting from linear to circular models. They’re doing this not just to comply with EPR mandates or reduce Scope 3 emissions but because it makes business sense:
Securing recycled material streams creates long-term resilience against supply chain volatility.
Designing for recyclability reduces total lifecycle costs.
Investing in traceable sourcing protects brand equity in an era of radical transparency.
At Plastics For Change, we’re focused on building scalable, high-quality, ethically sourced recycled plastic supply chains that can meet global packaging demands without compromising on compliance, performance, or impact.
Redefining the Role of Procurement:
Historically, procurement has focused on price, quality, and delivery timelines. But now, there’s a fourth dimension: circularity.
Procurement leaders are being asked new questions:
Can your suppliers trace the origin of recycled plastic?
Is the material ethically sourced?
Does it reduce emissions and comply with future regulation?
The organizations that are embedding these questions into their supplier scorecards today will be the ones leading tomorrow, not just in sustainability rankings, but in supply chain performance and investor confidence.
What’s Next?
We’re standing at the crossroads of regulation, innovation, and environmental urgency. Businesses have a choice: either adapt early and lead the shift toward circular packaging, or risk being left behind in a compliance-heavy, costlier future.
The most successful companies won’t be the ones that simply eliminate plastic, they’ll be the ones that learn to manage it better. Because the future of packaging is about using the right material, the right way, for the long haul.
Looking to integrate high-quality, ethically sourced recycled plastic into your packaging?
Get in touch with us.