Food and consumer goods giant Unilever (London; www.unilever.com) has joined the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and consultancy Ernst & Young (London; www.ey.com) to launch the Circle Alliance, a new USD 21 mn (EUR 19 mn) public-private initiative which the trio said aims to tackle plastic pollution.

Unilever said the venture would support entrepreneurs and small businesses across the plastics value chain “to scale solutions that reduce plastic use, tackle plastic waste and build thriving circular economies”. 

The company said the alliance would have a particular focus on women, who it said made up the majority of waste collectors working in the informal sector in the global south. The alliance’s initial focus would be on India, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines, although Unilever said the plan was to expand to other markets by bringing onboard other organisations who would invest in the initiative.

Related: SMEs need more support to meet sustainability targets

Speaking at the launch of the alliance, USAID administrator Samantha Power said it would bring together USAID’s “experience in empowering women in plastic-waste value chains and our long-standing relationships with national and local governments and…with civil society. 

“Unilever has unrivalled knowledge of, and an unrivalled role in, plastic supply chains, while EY brings experience in providing professional support to help businesses grow and thrive,” she added.

Earlier this year, Unilever admitted that it had fallen short of achieving its sustainability goals, notably around a pledge to halve the amount of virgin plastic used in its packaging. Pablo Costa, Unilever’s global head of packaging, said the firm had updated a number of its sustainability goals, including reducing its virgin plastic use by 30% in 2026 and by 40% in 2028.