Despite major pledges from multinational corporations to reduce their plastic use, global efforts to curb plastic pollution have made little progress, according to a new report. The U.N. Environment Programme and the Ellen Macarthur Foundation’s latest annual review shows that corporations are falling short of their 2025 target to use only reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging.

The Global Commitment pact, signed by companies like Nestlé and Mars, Inc., along with governments and other organizations, covers approximately 20% of the world’s plastic packaging market. Plastic pollution has become a growing environmental crisis, with concerns about its impact on ecosystems and human health. Researchers recently discovered plastic particles in human blood for the first time, underlining the urgency of addressing the issue.

Despite these concerns, signatories of the pact have shown minimal improvement. The percentage of packaging materials that can be recycled or reused only increased from 63.2% to 65.4% between 2019 and 2021. The report also highlighted a troubling rise in the use of “virgin” plastics—plastic made from new oil and natural gas—which is contributing to higher greenhouse gas emissions. This marks a reversal from earlier reports, which had optimistically suggested that virgin plastic use was nearing its peak.

The increase in plastic consumption is attributed to the economic rebound following the COVID-19 pandemic, but experts point out that corporations have made “alarmingly little” progress in eliminating single-use packaging altogether. The report stresses that without curbing overall plastic consumption, reductions in virgin plastic use will not be sufficient.

In addition, fossil fuel companies are investing billions of dollars in new plastic production facilities, capitalizing on the growing demand for plastic as countries strive to phase out fossil fuels in other industries. As negotiations for a global plastic treaty are underway in Uruguay this month, environmental advocates, like Greenpeace’s Graham Forbes, are urging governments to take action. “This report underscores the need for a global treaty that drives major reductions in plastic production and accelerates the shift to a reuse-based economy,” Forbes said.

Not all companies have failed to meet expectations. Unilever, for example, succeeded in reducing its virgin plastic consumption by 15%, cutting more than 100,000 metric tons of plastic between 2018 and 2021. However, Coca-Cola saw its virgin plastic use increase by nearly 100,000 metric tons over the same period, highlighting a stark contrast between corporate commitments and actions.

As the deadline for significant plastic reduction looms, the growing disconnect between corporate pledges and actual progress continues to raise questions about the future of global plastic pollution efforts.