Calls for strong Global Plastics Treaty grow ahead of final negotiations

World countries will meet in Geneva next week to finalise negotiations on a Global Plastics Treaty meant to tackle plastic pollution – but with many petrochemical lobbyists scheduled to attend, civil society groups are asking governments to maintain their resolve.

The last round of so-called INC-5 negotiations, held in South Korea last December, ended in deadlock as oil countries and fossil fuel lobbyists blocked progress around plastic production caps and financial mechanisms to tackle the crisis.

Strong fossil fuel presence expected in Geneva

In the next and final meeting, due to take place from August 5 to 14, petrochemical firms are still expected to oppose a strong, legally-binding treaty. According to Greenpeace research released this week, the companies that send lobbyists to these talks, including Dow, ExxonMobil, BASF, Chevron Phillips, Shell, SABIC and INEOS, have increased their plastic production capacity by 1.4 million tonnes since the start of Global Plastics Treaty negotiations.

“We all want to see a strong Global Plastics Treaty that turns the tide on plastic pollution. Our research shows that those with the most to lose from meaningful regulation are working hardest to obstruct it. We can’t allow the corporations who profit from plastic pollution to write the rules or we’ll end up with a toothless Treaty. It’s time to ban lobbyists from the Talks and for UN Member States to stand firm and support a strong Treaty,” said Anna Diski, the report’s author and Senior Plastics Campaigner with Greenpeace UK.

Explore ‘all available pathways’ to get treaty over the line

Meanwhile, WWF reminded governments of the urgency of getting a treaty signed after months of delays, and urged them to “explore all available procedural pathways” to make this happen in Geneva.

“The speed at which the treaty went from conception to near completion is exactly what the planet needed, but it was never going to be without challenges,” said Erin Simon, Vice President and Head of Plastic Waste & Business, WWF. 

“As we approach the final stretch, negotiators must remember why we’re here. Our planet is overwhelmed by plastic waste, and it’s impacting everyone and everything that calls this planet home. At the start of these negotiations, the global community collectively agreed enough was enough, now is the moment to come together to deliver a path forward.”

Businesses call for Global Plastics Treaty adoption

Last month, businesses also published an open letter calling for the adoption of a treaty that would help harmonise global regulations and provide the corporate world with the certainty they need to make investments. 

The Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty – which includes  290+ businesses – didn’t go as far as calling for plastic production caps but promoted “the phase out of problematic and avoidable plastic products”.

Companies have struggled to make meaningful progress in reducing their plastic use, and recycling remains limited: a recent report found that it would take 30 years and €400 billion of investment to achieve cost parity between virgin and recycled plastics.