A treaty to end the age of Plastic

At the global plastics treaty talks, we, the people, need to speak louder than the plastic-addicted corporations.

In March, there was a collective cheer when United Nations member states adopted a historic resolution to end plastic pollution during the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi. Governments agreed to start work on a global, legally binding agreement that addresses the entire lifecycle of plastic and will come into effect in 2024. The decision has been called ambitious, revolutionary, and historic.

The resolution established an Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee to develop the agreement's text. Its first meeting will be held on November 28 in Uruguay.

Thinking of the upcoming plastic treaty negotiations has me swinging between high hopes and anxiety. I can see how the treaty can finally end the age of throwaway plastic. The world has an opportunity to forge an ambitious global plastics treaty—a solution that can match the scale of this global crisis.

On the other hand, I have seen how the most promising policies can go awry when the interests of big businesses are threatened. Corporations pour millions into blocking, delaying, and undermining legislative efforts and global agreements. At the same time, big brands, such as Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Unilever, and Nestlé, make pledges to cut plastic use but consistently fall short of fulfilling their public commitments.

Plastic regulations have been enacted worldwide, yet much more needs to be done. Front-line communities are still grappling with plastic pollution in all its forms. The Global South bears the highest social and environmental costs of sachet production, waste trade, and waste burning.

In the Philippines—one of the biggest recipients of plastic waste worldwide—our communities disproportionately bear the brunt of environmental degradation caused by plastic pollution. We are at risk because plastic production remains unchecked, and companies, in league with big oil, continue to burden us with disposable packaging that harms our health and the climate just so they can maximise their profits.

This is why the Global Plastics Treaty must immediately limit and reduce total plastic production and use. Cutting the amount of plastic that companies make and use is in line with the goal of keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius, as 99 per cent of plastics are made from fossil fuels. Ending the corporate addiction to single-use plastic is vital to addressing climate change and protecting communities.

The Global Plastics Treaty we need must stop excessive plastic production, keep oil and gas in the ground, and mainstream refill and reuse systems.

We must ensure justice and a just transition for affected groups and the most vulnerable stakeholders, such as fenceline communities in “sacrifice zones” near plastic production facilities, fisherfolk, and workers across the plastics supply chain.

For this treaty to result in meaningful change, the voices of impacted communities, waste pickers, and populations displaced by plastic pollution have to be heard. Their experiences and knowledge are valuable to ensure we leave no one behind. More importantly, their authentic and empowered participation in this process is necessary for environmental and climate justice.

Achieving all these will be challenging, but solving the plastic pollution crisis is truly doable and key to tackling climate change. The reuse revolution is thriving with scalable solutions worldwide – from reusable cups at convenience stores and refilling systems in community shops to the comeback of returnable glass bottles in the beverage sector.

Policies like plastic bans and upstream-focused extended producer responsibility measures are paving the way for systemic change at local and national levels. These are what I call pockets of hope and change.

During the treaty negotiations, we must speak louder than big brands, big oil, and the politicians who pander to them. We must ensure that the treaty puts people’s interests, environmental justice, and our climate at its core. The Global Plastics Treaty has the potential to be one of the most significant environmental agreements in history, and we need to make sure that it does not fall short of its promise.