Launched in 2023, the Circular Packaging Association is the first of its kind circular economy cross sectoral platform that seeks to transform the packaging value chain. The Circular Packaging Association is the result of work initiated in 2019 by founding members of the CIRCLE Coalition for innovation in recycling towards a Closed Loop Economy. CIRCLE was formalized under the sponsorship of the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment via the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a circular economy for packaging across the GCC.

The Circular Packaging Association aims to embed circular and green economy principles to the packaging value chain in the UAE, transforming the existing take-make-dispose linear system into one that views and uses post-consumer packaging waste as a valued resource. The association also aims to drive consumer awareness and provide insight and recommendations on legislations and policies related to sustainable packaging through a data-based, multi-stakeholder approach.