Vinnova and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency launch plastic pledges

Plastic is a fantastic material when used correctly and in the right context, but solving the challenges associated with plastic's climate and environmental impact requires shared responsibility and new solutions. That's how the idea of plastic pledges, formerly plastic contracts, emerged.

– Through the Plastic Pledge, we want to create conditions together with the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency for actors along the plastic value chain – from design and manufacturing to sales and recycling – to set objective and make decisions to jointly reduce the climate and environmental impact of plastic. This could, for example, involve reducing the use of certain products, replacing fossil plastic or increasing recycling, says Ida Langborg, head of department in the department for Industrial development at Vinnova.

Ida Langborg, head of department at the department for Industrial development at Vinnova.

Launch in event marks the start

Plastic Pledges will be launched on October 16 at Downtown Camper in Stockholm. The event will be broadcast digitally and will bring together key players from business, the public sector and authorities. During the day, the first three plastic pledges will be presented in the areas of business packaging, wind power and reusable lunch boxes. Participants will also receive inspiration from the industry, knowledge about plastic pledges as tools for a circular economy and the opportunity for match-making for upcoming plastic pledges.

The launch event is the starting point for long-term work and will be a recurring meeting place for actors who want to contribute to the transition.

Vinnova and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency are ahead

Vinnova and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, together with other relevant authorities, will enter into a joint government plastic pledge, which will also be presented during the launch event. The purpose of the government plastic pledge is to support the plastic pledges established within different parts of the value chain and themselves contribute to a circular, resource-efficient and non-toxic use of plastic.

Call for proposals will strengthen work on plastic pledges

Vinnova is also planning a call for proposals linked to plastic pledges that will open in October.

– We know that many people want to contribute to the transition, but that it can be difficult to get started. With this the call for proposals we want to make it easier to develop common and feasible plastic pledges that can contribute to concrete change in the affected value chain, says Ida Langborg.

Want to know more about the initiative or participate in the launch? Register for the webcast of the launch event here.

Launch of Plastic Pledges