Plastics treaty talks end without agreement

Hosted in Busan, South Korea, the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) failed to deliver a legally binding deal, despite more than two years of negotiations taking place in the run up. The session featured over 3,300 delegates from over 170 countries. After running for a week, INC-5 adjourned with a ‘Chair’s Text’ that will act as the starting point for further negotiations in 2025.

“Through the Busan talks, negotiators have reached a greater degree of convergence on the structure and elements of the treaty text, as well as a better understanding of country positions and shared challenges,” said Inger Andersen, executive director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

“But it is clear there is persisting divergence in critical areas and more time is needed for these areas to be addressed."

According to the EU, INC-5 was defined by a clear divide between major oil-producing countries and the ‘High Ambition Coalition’, which includes the EU, the UK, Canada, as well as many African, Latin American and Pacific countries. The EU claimed the main points of divergence were a possible target of reducing the production of primary plastic polymers, bans and restrictions of chemicals of concern in plastic products, as well as problematic and avoidable plastic products.

“I strongly regret that there is no agreement on a new global plastics treaty. If business as usual continues, plastic production will triple by 2060,” said Jessika Roswall, EU commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy.

“The EU will remain firmly committed to finding a global solution. Our oceans, our environment and citizens around the globe need it.” 

UNEP data from 2021 indicates that global plastic production amounts to some 400 million tonnes (Mt) per year. However, only an estimated nine per cent of all plastics produced have been recycled, with 12 per cent incinerated. The remainder has either been disposed of in landfills or released into the environment, where much of it ends up accumulating in the oceans. 

According to Christophe de Maistre, segment president for Energies and Chemicals at Schneider Electric, both upstream and downstream solutions will be required to tackle the plastics problem.

“With less than 10 per cent of the plastic produced globally being recycled since 1950, it's evident that our approach to consuming and disposing of plastics must change,” said de Maistre.

“However, plastic recycling is just one-half of the problem. With plastic production now responsible for four times more greenhouse gas emissions than the aviation industry, reducing single-use plastic production is of the upmost importance, and this must be met alongside improved recycling efforts.”