Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, with global plastic waste projected to increase significantly in the coming decades. Since 2018, the World Economic Forum’s Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) has brought together governments, businesses, civil society and international organisations to accelerate action on plastic pollution through inclusive, country-led approaches. Central to GPAP’s model are National Plastic Action Partnerships (NPAPs), which support countries to develop strategies and roadmaps for reducing plastic waste, strengthening waste management systems and advancing a circular plastics economy.
This evaluation provides an independent assessment of GPAP’s performance, examining its relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, equity, impact and sustainability. Drawing on evidence from across GPAP’s global portfolio, the report assesses the extent to which the partnership has delivered on its objectives and contributed to improved environmental, social and economic outcomes.
The evaluation examines how GPAP’s model, including its convening power, technical assistance, scientific tools and support for the informal waste sector, has contributed to national and international efforts to tackle plastic pollution. It assesses GPAP’s progress against its objectives, the results achieved to date, the factors that have supported or constrained delivery, and the partnership’s prospects for achieving its 2025/26, 2030 and 2040 ambitions. The report also identifies lessons to inform future programming. The findings offer timely insights for policymakers, practitioners and partners working to address the global plastics crisis and support the transition to a more sustainable and equitable plastics economy.
An accompanying Annex provides contribution stories and case studies from Ecuador, Ghana, Indonesia, Mexico City, Nigeria, Peru, the Philippines, and Viet Nam, offering detailed examples of the Global Plastic Action Partnership’s work and influence across different contexts: Case Study Annex
