Since 2023, CDP has asked companies to disclose their plastics data through the corporate questionnaire. The plastics questions are informed by and developed out of The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Global Commitment. This report shines a light on the progress companies have made on transparency around plastics and underscores a clear message: more needs to be done to transition to a circular economy.
Key findings from the report include:
Corporate plastics disclosure is scaling quickly: Disclosure increased by 44% from 2023-2025, to a record of 4,262 companies with a combined market capitalization of US$26.3 trillion, or 18.3% of global market capitalization. This signals growing recognition of plastics as a material business risk and opportunity.
The proportion of disclosures is increasing in markets with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Countries with EPR policies represented 96% of South American disclosures in 2025, up from 90% in 2023. This suggests that clearer and more harmonized policy signals can accelerate corporate transparency across markets.
More companies are setting plastics targets: 77% of companies reported setting targets (or planning to set them in the next 2 years) in 2025, up from 61% in 2023. The most commonly reported targets relate to plastics packaging, while the least common are on microplastics. However, a substantial share of companies still lack targets, and the quality and specificity of targets remain critical for accountability and decision-making.
Value chain transparency is improving: The number of companies mapping plastics in their value chain rose from 1,233 to 4,250 from 2023-2025 (an increase of over 244%), reflecting broader efforts to understand upstream inputs, downstream impacts and potential bottlenecks in recycling capacity.
Risk awareness is growing: 44% of organizations report identifying plastics- related risks in 2025, up from 13% in 2023, particularly in regions with more mature regulation and mandatory reporting. This supports the case for harmonized policy signals and clearer market expectations.