Plastics

Home > Plastics

More and more plastics are being produced each year, posing significant dangers to global ecosystems, economies, and communities. Greater visibility of plastic footprints, through robust corporate disclosure, is essential for providing a foundation for companies to build strategies to reduce their use of plastics and the pollution associated with it.

Read our INC-5 policy brief

Explore 2023 plastics data

Through CDP, companies and capital markets can measure their plastic-related impacts to better manage risks and opportunities, report on progress with transparency, and commit to proactive action.

Why you? How does CDP help?

Global context The risks The opportunities

11mn

metric tons of plastic waste enters the ocean each year, harming marine life and damaging habitats.

>5%

of global emissions will be a result of single-use plastic production by 2050, if current rates continue.

88%

of companies say plastic was a relevant issue, yet 32.5% of companies say they did not have plastic-related targets.

Plastic pollution and waste pose distinct risks to human health, from both exposure to plastic particles and the associated chemicals.

Many companies still have a limited understanding of how they contribute to the plastic pollution and waste.

Companies face a US$100B annual financial risk if governments require them to cover waste management costs at expected volumes and recyclability.

A large, growing number of investors and customers are expecting companies to respond and adapt to plastic-related impacts.

To remain competitive, companies must learn how to do more with less and collaborate.

Companies can drive change faster than governments and it's in their direct business interest to act.

Improving measurements Through disclosure What are the benefits?

With a Global Plastics Treaty in progress, companies should act now to get ahead of regulation and boost their competitive advantage.

In order to manage, we must measure. Effective response strategies can only be developed if we better understand the situation in which we operate.

Committing to measuring, monitoring and reducing plastic pollution and waste are the first steps on a journey to a more resilient company.

Demonstrate your company's commitment to eliminating plastic pollution and waste to hundreds of investors and customers, with transparency.

Benchmark your progress against competitors and peers and identify opportunities for change.

CDP helps you develop and implement effective plans to eliminate plastic pollution and waste from your supply chains

Companies that consistently measure and report plastics data through CDP can enhance their understanding of water risks and how to respond.

Companies that transparently measure and report through CDP are viewed more favourably by their investors and customers.

Companies reporting through CDP are taking action to address the plastic crisis.

Learn more about the benefits of corporate disclosure and becoming a Capital Market Signatory.

Resources

Information for governments

Learn more about mandatory corporate disclosure and the Global Plastics Treaty.

Information for investors

Learn more about mandatory corporate disclosure and the Global Plastics Treaty.

Information for corporates

Learn more about mandatory corporate disclosure and the Global Plastics Treaty.

Companies call for mandatory disclosure of plastic data

Read CDP's joint letter with 38 leading companies calling on governments to ensure mandatory corporate disclosure of plastics data for a sustainable future.

Global investors call for mandatory disclosure of plastic data

Read CDP's joint letter with 49 leading financial institutions, calling on governments to ensure mandatory corporate disclosure on plastics is a core element of the Global Plastics Treaty.

CDP's submission to the Global Plastics Treaty

Read CDP's submission on the need to include a plastic-related corporate disclosure mechanism that draws upon learnings and best practice from the corporate disclosure mechanisms utilized by other multilateral environmental agreements.

The business risks of plastics pollution and waste

Learn about the risks of plastics pollution, as well as the opportunities of plastics disclosure and action.

How are plastics relevant to your sector?

Learn more about plastics and its relevance across the different sectors.

Technical note on plastics disclosure

Find out about CDP’s exploratory approach to plastics disclosure, including its alignment to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Global Commitment.

Updates and insights

Blogs

Read the latest opinions on the current environmental initiatives and impacts.

News

Discover the latest insights on the global economy's transition to a low-carbon, sustainable future.

Events

Join us to learn more on environmental reporting and driving sustainability from CDP’s experts and those already disclosing.

Take action and reduce your environmental impact through CDP.

Further Support

Guidance and questionnaires

Browse our latest multi-environmental issue questionnaire guidance.

If you have any questions about our water security work, email the team at: [email protected].

Our Scaling Plastics Disclosure partners

CDP, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Minderoo Foundation, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and WWF are working together to expand CDP’s global environmental disclosure system to help solve the plastic crisis. Together, with our partners, we will harness the transparency and accountability obtained through disclosure to drive ambitious action on plastic pollution and waste at scale. This will be essential to the global protection of the environment and human health, supporting the transition to a 1.5°C, nature-positive, globally equitable world.