Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Inc. announced the company is joining an effort to move the world closer to a circular economy in which plastic never becomes waste. Together with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the U.N. Environment Programme and various companies, governments and NGOs, this commitment will strive to tackle plastic waste and the necessity of consumer packaging reform.

As a signatory to the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, Johnson & Johnson Consumer said it is committing to use more recycled materials in packaging, reduce reliance on the single-use model and ensure that 100 percent of plastic packaging be reusable, recyclable or compostable via design, partnerships and investments by 2025.

“With this decision to accelerate our sustainability goals, Johnson & Johnson Consumer is acknowledging the ever-increasing urgency of the issue of plastic waste—and our own responsibility to work toward innovative solutions," said Paulette Frank, worldwide vice president of environmental health, safety and sustainability at Johnson & Johnson, in a statement.

The New Plastics Economy Global Commitment reflects a growing consensus that plastic waste has become a pressing environmental threat. According to a report issued by the World Economic Forum, more than 40 years after the launch of the first universal recycling symbol, only 14 percent of plastic packaging is collected for recycling.

Related:SC Johnson Boosts Plastic Recycling and Reuse Commitments