July 24, 2025
There is unprecedented alignment between governments, businesses and civil society on the core critical elements which can and should underpin an effective treaty – a foundation on which to conclude an agreement at INC 5.2 in August in Geneva, Switzerland, and allow us to begin implementation.
We, 300+ companies, organisations and financial institutions of the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, remain steadfast in our belief that a robust treaty with global rules and common obligations is the most effective way to pursue a lasting impact on plastic pollution while delivering economic, environmental and social value. Voluntary and fragmented action is not enough, and measures determined differently in each country will add significant barriers and costs for business to implement the necessary changes at scale.
Business supports a treaty with harmonised regulations because it drives consistency across borders while supporting national ambitions and provides the lowest cost option to effectively address plastic pollution.
A robust treaty with strong obligations and harmonised regulations on key elements – including phase-outs, product design and extended producer responsibility (EPR) – can create economic, social and environmental value at both a global and national level, in comparison to a treaty based on voluntary national measures. Evidence suggests that harmonised regulations, in comparison to voluntary national measures alone, could:
Representatives from the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty will attend INC 5.2 as registered observers. While a larger number of endorsing organisations will be present in Geneva, you can approach the following company representatives as spokespeople for the Business Coalition during INC 5.2:
We welcome the ongoing efforts of countries around the world to engage constructively, at both political and technical levels, and strongly encourage all UN Member States to work towards an ambitious and effective agreement in August at INC-5.2. There’s no time to waste.
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.