The UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) is discussing a binding global treaty to combat plastic pollution, which would cap plastic production, ban single-use plastics, and provide financial support to less developed regions. While the talks aimed to conclude at Busan, South Korea, a final agreement was delayed due to disagreements on treaty amendments from fossil fuel-producing nations and heavy plastic material producers. The treaty’s implementation could reduce global plastic waste, which is expected to triple by 2060, with half ending up in landfills and less than a fifth being recycled. Consumer demand for sustainable packaging supports the treaty agreement, with 47% of consumers saying they consider “ethical and environmentally friendly services” in their purchasing decisions. The treaty’s implementation of caps and bans on virgin and single-use plastics could accelerate innovation in packaging materials, such as “paperisation” and biodegradable materials.
Establishing a UN Plastic Pollution Treaty to drive innovation in sustainable materials, thereby accelerating the growth of a circular economy and reducing environmental waste.
