From November 25 to December 1, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is holding its fifth and final meeting (INC-5) in Busan, South Korea, to draft a Global Plastics Treaty, which will lay out the key elements of a legally binding international agreement to end, or at least curb, plastics pollution by 2040.The meeting is expected to be held from November 25 to December 1 in Busan, South Korea.
On the eve of INC-5, Plastics Europe, Bioplastics Europe, and the World Plastics Council issued a position on the principles and content of the treaty.
1. Plastics Europe, emphasizing plastics recovery and recycling
PlasticsEurope, the association representing European plastics manufacturers, has a goal - to reduce plastic pollution and not to violate international treaties, but to emphasize eco-design of products, waste recovery and recycling rather than bans more or less directed at the use of this material.
Virginia Janssens, Managing Director of Plastics Europe, said, “We believe that the transition to a circular plastics system, where all applications are reused, recycled and responsibly managed, is key to solving the problem and to the success of the agreement. The most effective way to accelerate this transition, support our SDGs and combat climate change, is to ensure that the agreement puts real value on plastic waste by turning it into a resource.”
According to the Association, the agreement should include sustainable financing mechanisms, such as extended producer responsibility (EPR) systems, to unlock the huge public and private investments needed. Such an approach would prevent the most problematic and avoidable applications, those that cause the greatest dispersion in the environment, while avoiding further environmental, social and economic damage.
The Association also emphasized the need to identify concrete solutions to different environmental challenges. “A single global approach will not work,” Janssens said. The agreement must strike the right balance between global obligations and national measures. In addition, negotiators should avoid making decisions based only on attractive appearances, which could have negative environmental and socio-economic impacts and undermine the agreement's ability to be implemented. From a European perspective, it is important that the agreement supports, rather than hinders, the industry's transition to circularity and competitiveness.”
Plastics manufacturers say the final agreement should require countries to develop national action plans that include mandatory targets for recycling and the use of recycled materials, establish a strong system of indicators to monitor and evaluate plastic pollution, and ensure the accountability of all relevant actors.
2. European Bioplastics Association, suggesting a distinction between traditional plastics and bioplastics
The European bioplastics association (EBA), proposes to develop a suitable tool, a separate standard, to differentiate between biodegradable or compostable plastics and conventional plastics in the upcoming treaty. This would promote fairer competition between materials and allow bioplastics to contribute to the reduction of plastic pollution.
3. World Plastics Council, Integrating recyclability throughout the plastics life cycle
The World Plastic Council, the world's organization of plastics manufacturers, released a document in which it made five recommendations to negotiators at the Busan conference, in line with those developed at the European level: to establish sustainable financing through the EPR mechanism; to adopt an application-based approach to highly dispersible plastics, avoiding generic measures such as bans; to facilitate the international trade in recyclable plastics; prioritize eco-design of products through the adoption of recycling targets at the national level; and recognize the key role of the informal sector, which is responsible for 60 per cent of plastic waste collection globally, and promote sustainable partnerships with industry, Governments and academia.
Benny Mermans, chairman of the association, says: “Integrating recyclability throughout the plastics life cycle, from design to recycling to responsible end-of-life management, and developing waste management systems that are fit for purpose, must be the backbone of the agreement. Creating a system where all plastics applications are responsibly reused, recycled and managed, rather than disposed of, is critical to addressing this issue.”
