December 19, 2023
On Wednesday January 17th 2024 we are hosting a side-event alongside the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos, on the topic “How Leaders and Policymakers Can Turn the Tide on Plastic Pollution”.
In March 2022, the United Nations Environmental Assembly adopted a landmark resolution mandating the development of a legally binding global instrument to end plastic pollution by the end of 2024. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make a positive change to our world by reassessing how we make, use, and dispose of plastics.
As the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, we recognise that we cannot continue with a business-as-usual approach if we are to end plastic pollution. We see the treaty as a pivotal solution in bringing about systemic change and believe that there is no time to waste for governments to agree on globally binding rules and harmonised regulations covering the whole lifecycle of plastics.
With the third round of negotiations having wrapped up last month with little in the way of concrete plans, we see a need for all stakeholders to raise the levels of urgency and ambition to help unblock the intergovernmental negotiation process. A number of members of the Business Coalition for a Global Plastic Treaty will be in Davos in January to discuss with industry representatives, policymakers and civil society groups how we can work together to get the treaty negotiations back on track.
Chemicals and polymers of concern
Problematic and avoidable plastic products
Reduce, Reuse, Refill and repair of plastics and plastic products
Product design and performance
Extended Producer Responsibility
Waste management
The draft treaty text includes a (sub-)section related to this focus area, but the proposed provisions do not reflect the Business Coalition’s recommendations.
The draft treaty text proposes provisions that are at least partly aligned with the Business Coalition recommendations, but some major changes still need to be incorporated and/ or it lacks the necessary references to develop technical specifications to make them meaningful, operational and enforceable.
The draft treaty text proposes provisions that are mostly aligned to the Business Coalition’s recommendations, and it references the need to develop technical specifications to ensure harmonised implementation.
The draft treaty text proposes provisions that are aligned to the Business Coalition’s recommendations, and it requires technical specifications to be adopted by the INC or the future governing body to help governments to implement harmonised and effective regulations.
The draft treaty text contains both the legal provisions and the technical specifications needed to help governments to implement harmonised and effective regulations in line with the Business Coalition’s recommendations.