Global - Plastic Reboot

About the Global Project

Plastic Reboot’s Global Project works to create impact beyond what National Projects can achieve alone, taking a global perspective to create the conditions for solutions to scale – building the policies, financing mechanisms and networks that help breakthroughs benefit all.

Co-led by the United Nations Environment Programme and World Wildlife Fund, the Global Project provides the key function of providing cross-cutting technical assistance, coordination, knowledge management, and communication to Plastic Reboot across all participating 15 National Projects.

The Global Project focuses on transformational levers to maximize impact, while creating widely applicable or replicable assets to multiply influence beyond direct project work.

We focus on:

• Harmonized definitions, metrics and measurement methodologies

• National Framework, regulations and policies for circular economy

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) & Deposit Return Systems (DRS)

• Comparison and selection of alternative materials

• Design guidance on materials and products

• Standards and sustainable procurement

• Reuse & refill systems at community to city scales

• Innovative finance mechanisms

See information on grievance mechanisms here.

Year 1 Highlights

In May 2026, Plastic Reboot released its 1st Annual Report, highlighting the first year of this global initiative transforming the food and beverage sector from a linear, single-use plastics model to circular systems that prioritize reduction, reuse, and redesign. Through country-led action and global collaboration, Plastic Reboot is building the foundations for scalable solutions that reduce plastic pollution, protect ecosystems and public health, and advance a more sustainable and inclusive economy.

Plastic Reboot’s first year secured the global partnerships, structured dialogues, and shared resources necessary to turn ambition into action. From the global launch in Washington, D.C., to engagements at the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) in Geneva, GEF IP Forum in Nairobi and 8th GEF Assembly in Samarkand, Plastic Reboot strengthened its global presence and expanded its partner base.

These engagements brought in a broader coalition of businesses, technical experts, and governments, helping align efforts across the wider system. Read the full report to learn more about our Year 1 accomplishments.

1st Annual Conference in Salvador, Brazil

In October 2025, the programme hosted its inaugural annual conference in Brazil bringing national teams together for the first time and helping translate individual commitments into a connected community of practice. Countries shared challenges, aligned priorities, and established ongoing peer-to-peer collaboration.

This conference moved deliberately beyond formal meetings and presentations. Delegates stepped into laboratories, recycling facilities, and community workspaces to see how circular solutions are being developed and tested on the ground.