Global Plastic Action Partnership: Supports country-led roadmaps to reduce plastic pollution and accelerate circular plastics systems

What’s Required

GPAP is not a regulatory framework and imposes no direct legal requirements on participating companies or governments.

Its main activities include:

1. Establish National Plastic Action Partnerships

GPAP works with governments to establish country-level NPAPs that convene:

1. Government.

2. Business.

3. Civil society.

4. Development organizations.

5. Academia.

6. Financial institutions.

7. Waste-sector stakeholders.

2. Develop National Action Roadmaps

Country partnerships create tailored roadmaps based on:

1. Plastic flow analysis.

2. Waste-management data.

3. Policy gaps.

4. Infrastructure needs.

5. Investment requirements.

6. Circular economy opportunities.

National Action Roadmaps are central to GPAP’s operating model.

3. Mobilize finance

GPAP seeks to direct investment toward:

1. Collection systems.

2. Recycling infrastructure.

3. Circular business models.

4. Alternative materials.

5. Reuse systems.

6. Waste-worker inclusion.

By early 2025, GPAP reported that its national roadmap approach had helped mobilize approximately US$3.1 billion in investments.

4. Promote policy alignment

GPAP supports government and stakeholder dialogue on issues such as:

1. EPR.

2. Packaging regulation.

3. Waste collection.

4. Recycling targets.

5. Circular economy policy.

6. Plastic leakage prevention.

5. Support inclusive waste systems

The partnership also promotes safer and more inclusive livelihoods for informal waste workers.

GPAP reported improvements affecting more than 12,000 informal waste workers by early 2025.

6. Share knowledge across countries

NPAP countries share:

1. Policy lessons.

2. Data models.

3. Investment approaches.

4. Recycling strategies.

5. Implementation experience.

7. Connect national and global plastics policy

GPAP also contributes evidence and stakeholder input to international processes, including discussions around the Global Plastics Treaty and related multilateral environmental agreements.

Important Deadlines

GPAP does not impose statutory compliance deadlines.

Key milestones include:

1. September 2018: GPAP launched.

2. 2018: Indonesia became the first country partner.

3. 2021: NPAPs operating in Indonesia, Ghana, Viet Nam, and Nigeria.

4. January 2025: GPAP reached 25 participating countries.

5. 2025-2026: Continued development and implementation of National Plastic Action Roadmaps.

6. Ongoing: Expansion of financing, policy collaboration, and circular plastics projects.

Current Status

Active and expanding.

GPAP remains hosted by the World Economic Forum and operates through a network of 25 National Plastic Action Partnerships.

World Economic Forum reporting for 2025-2026 continued to describe GPAP as the world’s largest initiative dedicated to tackling plastic pollution, with its NPAP network reaching roughly 20% of the global population.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

GPAP does not have legal enforcement powers.

Possible consequences of weak participation are primarily:

1. Reputational.

2. Loss of collaboration opportunities.

3. Reduced access to investment partnerships.

4. Slower implementation of national plastic strategies.

Examples of Known Violations / Failure Modes

No formal “violations” apply.

Potential implementation failure modes include:

1. National roadmaps not being translated into policy.

2. Inadequate financing.

3. Weak government coordination.

4. Lack of reliable plastic-flow data.

5. Insufficient recycling infrastructure.

6. Exclusion of informal workers.

7. Low private-sector engagement.

8. Poor monitoring of roadmap outcomes.

9. Fragmented waste governance.

10. Failure to scale successful pilot projects.

Resources

• https://www.globalplasticaction.org/

• https://www.weforum.org/press/2018/09/beyond-bags-bottles-and-straws-new-partnership-to-tackle-plastic-waste-from-source-to-sea/

• https://www.weforum.org/press/2025/01/25-countries-unite-in-the-fight-against-plastic-pollution/

• https://www.undp.org/chemicals-waste/projects/national-plastic-action-partnerships

• https://www.weforum.org/