Today we, the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, representing +250 businesses, financial institutions and NGOs across the plastics value chain, have signed the ‘Bridge to Busan Declaration on Primary Plastic Polymers’ to stress the importance of and the need for an international legally binding instrument that addresses the full life-cycle of plastics. 

This declaration calls on governments to commit to (1) achieve sustainable levels of production of primary plastic polymers, (2) ensure transparency in the production of primary plastic polymers, and (3) agree to a global objective regarding the sustainable production of primary plastic polymers.‍

As set out in our Vision Statement published two years ago, we acknowledge the need to reduce plastic production and use through a circular economy approach, focusing on those plastics that have high-leakage rates, are short-lived, and/or are made from fossil-based virgin resources. While we remain open to discuss the appropriate type of science-based objectives and measures, it is imperative that production is included in the scope of the plastics treaty. This will allow the Conference of the Parties (COP) to adopt such decisions in the future, and governments to take action on them. ‍

Based on our roadmap towards an effective Global Plastics Treaty (‘Treaty On A Page’), we call on governments to continue discussions on potential elements and actions to achieve sustainable levels of production of primary plastic polymers, such as:

• Each party to the treaty must report on the type and quantity of plastic polymers produced in their country, including information on the origin of the raw materials used.
• Governments should commit to continuously improve their national policies to promote sustainable consumption and production of plastics, safe circular economy approaches and environmentally sound management of plastic waste.
• The treaty should allow the Conference of the Parties (COP) to adopt a global set of quantitative and qualitative targets to strengthen national efforts over time, supporting our desired global outcomes on reduction, circulation, prevention and remediation.
• As part of national implementation plans, the treaty can drive the adoption of economic incentives and regulatory mechanisms to enable the transition to a circular economy, leading to an overall reduction of plastic production and use.

Read the ‘Bridge to Busan’ declaration and explore its current list of signatories here. 

Find out more about our ambition for the treaty ahead of the fifth and last planned round of negotiations here.

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_{The decision to support the Bridge to Busan Declaration was developed in close collaboration with a Policy Working Group co-chaired by business representatives, and through an extensive consultation with the Members of the Coalition, ensuring a high-level of alignment amongst member organisations. However, the recommendations expressed in this text and the content of the Declaration may not necessarily reflect in all aspects the position of every single Coalition Member.}