Mexico's Plastic Pact Identifies Top 10 Avoidable Plastics

The Plastic Pact of Mexico (PPMX), an initiative coordinated by WWF and WRAP, an international circular economy NGO, has identified the 10 most problematic and avoidable plastics for the country. The program aims to identify and scale collaborative, circular solutions across sectors to reduce plastic pollution.

The list which was created in collaboration with researchers and Mexican companies seeks to identify plastic products with the highest likelihood of being released into the environment, those containing harmful chemicals for human health, and those that pose challenges for recycling, reuse, or composting. Ninel Escobar, Director of Climate Change, WWF Mexico, explained that this information is meant to guide the food, beverage, and personal care sectors in reducing plastic pollution in the country. “It is estimated that between 2 and 3.6Mt of plastic waste are leaked into the environment every year, polluting rivers and oceans,” she stated.

The list features microplastics intentionally added to products like exfoliants and creams; disposable straw; opaque or pigmented PET; and oxodegradable additives used in various plastic packaging. It also includes polyvinyl chloride (PVC) labels that adhere to plastic packaging through heat; PVC used to wrap products like meat, ham, and cheese; high-impact polystyrene commonly used in dairy products such as yogurts, flans, and gelatin; polystyrene foam, commonly known as styrofoam; single-use plastic bags, including those used for fresh produce; and plastics used in packaging that provide no additional protection to the products.

Carolina Fernández, International Partnerships Manager, WRAP, emphasized that this publication positions Mexico as a leader in the region, being the second country in Latin America to have a list of problematic and avoidable plastics, and the 11th globally. “This is just the first result of PPMX’s efforts, a milestone made possible through both national and international collaboration,” she said.

In addition to identifying these plastics, PPMX proposed specific strategies for each item, including eliminating or replacing them with materials that have a lower environmental impact, and promoting reuse, redesigning, or improving collection and recycling processes. It also recommends exploring potential political interventions to support the implementation of these solutions. Aline Nolasco, Senior Climate Action Officer, WWF Mexico, emphasized that efforts will be focused on helping companies implement the guide’s recommendations, ensuring that valuable materials stay in use as long as possible, and minimizing waste, pollution, and risks.

The study involved various companies and organizations, including Evertis, Yakult, ALPLA, AMCOR, CRDC, Danone, Envases Universales, Kraft Heinz, Reckitt, Nestlé, Maritime Procurement Services, Bioelements, the National Association of State Environmental Authorities (ANNAE), Caribe Circular, Fundación Avina, WRI Mexico, Mexico Recicla, Ponguinguiola, Sustentur, and leading universities such as IPN and UNAM.

Javier Mancera, Representative, Yakult, emphasized that as members of the Plastic Pact of Mexico, they have been able to analyze the issue and explore solutions that must be implemented in collaboration with other companies to increase their reach. “It is important to correctly identify polystyrene to focus efforts on increasing and improving its collection and recycling, which can only be achieved together,” he said.