Our ambition for the treaty ahead of INC-5

All governments agree that the plastic pollution challenge is a matter of urgency. We strongly encourage UN Member States to work towards concrete outcomes at INC-5 in Busan, Republic of Korea, in November 2024. 

To deliver on an ambitious treaty in line with UNEA resolution 5/14, we need an agreement at INC-5 that, as a minimum, includes the following:

• A set of common obligations to address problematic and avoidable plastic products, chemicals of concern and product design that should be complemented by a commitment of governments to implement effective Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and waste management policies.

• A comprehensive package to support the implementation of the treaty, including through the use of different mechanisms to mobilise both public and private finance.

• A mandate to develop sector-specific programmes of work, so that key provisions in the treaty can be implemented for plastic applications where there is sufficient alignment, such as packaging and fishing gear to start with.

• A sound mechanism for reporting, monitoring of progress and evaluating the treaty’s effectiveness on a regular basis, with the possibility for the governing body of the treaty to further strengthen policy measures over time.

We know that a voluntary, fragmented and non-specific set of policy measures that are determined differently in each country will add barriers and costs to implement the necessary changes at scale. Businesses want a legally binding treaty that tackles the entire lifecycle of plastic products, underpinned by harmonised regulation.