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Plastic waste and pollution are detrimental to our global ecosystems, economies and communities. Whilst this crisis is a major financial risk to companies, it also serves as a significant opportunity. Acting on plastics can create new business opportunities that bring future commercial value.

In 2023, 3000+ companies disclosed on plastics for the first time through CDP, a significant step toward making action on plastics business as normal. However, voluntary action alone is not enough.

As negotiations resume, CDP, alongside leading financial institutions, are calling for governments to ensure mandatory corporate disclosure on plastics is a core element of the Global Plastics Treaty.

With a Global Plastics Treaty in development, now is the time for governments to act. To close the data gap and effectively track progress against targets, governments must agree on a Global Plastics Treaty that includes comprehensive mandatory corporate disclosure.

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Through CDP, companies and investors can measure their plastic-related impact to manage risks and opportunities, report on progress with transparency, and commit to proactive action. Companies can disclose their environmental data by responding to our water questionnaire and investors can sign up as an Investor Signatory to request this data from the world’s largest companies and major purchasers.

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 plastic disclosure for companies and becoming an investor signatory.

Resources

Information for governments

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

Information for investors

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

Information for corporates

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

Open letter to governments

Read CDP's joint letter with 48 leading financial institutions, calling on governments to ensure mandatory corporate disclosure on plastics is a core element of the Global Plastics Treaty.

Global Plastics Treaty submission

Read about CDP's submission to the international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution.

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.

How do I disclose on plastics via CDP?

Explore CDP’s guidance on plastics disclosure via the 2023 water security questionnaire.

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 guidance and questionnaires for climate, forests and water security.

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

Frequently asked questions

Why is plastics in the water security questionnaire?

Plastics has been included in the Water Security questionnaire in its inaugural year to reach the high impact sectors for plastics in the first year of disclosure who are already requested to disclose on water security, allowing us to collect valuable insights and continue to refine our approach to plastics disclosure.

There is a congruence between high impact sectors requested for Water Security and high impact Plastics sectors. An exercise was undertaken with CDP Water Watch to assess whether any of the high impact activities for plastics would not be requested if included within water security and results indicated it would be minimal. This is important as it will allow us to reach crucial actors in the first year of disclosure against plastics. 

Aquatic plastic pollution is expected to triple over the next 20 years under a business-as-usual projection, therefore corporate disclosure of plastics impacts is an essential first step to keeping plastics out of the environment and restoring the health of our ocean and freshwater ecosystem.

However, plastic is a cross-thematic issue: its impacts span all elements of the environment. CDP will continue to consider how plastic is incorporated into the disclosure system in the coming years, to ensure we are reaching the right actors and sectors with the right questions.

Why isn’t plastic scored in 2023?

Plastics is a new, 'exploratory' topic for CDP’s 2023 disclosure cycle. This gives companies time to develop their action plans on plastics, and the responses will allow CDP to refine its approach to plastics disclosure. As such, the questions on plastics will not count toward a company’s CDP score in 2023. In the future, plastics will be scored, however there is not yet an official timeline for this.

How will CDP’s plastics disclosure change in future?

CDP’s questionnaires are updated annually in line with frameworks, standards and best practice. The 2023 questions on plastics are exploratory and CDP may add expand this set of questions in the future. Indicators that cover additional value chain stages may be developed in the coming years.

The questions in the 2024 plastics module are not yet determined. CDP’s questionnaires are updated annually in line with best practice, and we value feedback from all our stakeholders.

Whilst the focus for 2023 is on the most problematic plastics production and use (plastic polymers, durable plastics and plastics packaging), in future, CDP may also broaden the scope of activities included in our system to include waste, investments and other areas.

Plastic is a cross-thematic issue: its impacts span across environmental issues. CDP will continue to consider how plastic is incorporated into the disclosure system in the coming years, to ensure we are reaching the right actors and sectors with the right questions.

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 pollution problem. In the coming years we will build a plastics disclosure mechanism comparable to carbon, ensuring that plastic-related disclosure informs decision-making and becomes a business norm, building on existing frameworks including the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Global Commitment. Together, we will harness the transparency and accountability obtained through disclosure to drive ambitious action on plastic pollution at scale from companies, investors, governments and regulators. 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.