Despite tireless efforts by the INC Chair and government negotiators to finalise a global treaty addressing the full lifecycle of plastics, it has not been agreed during INC 5.2 in Geneva.  

Disappointingly, consensus among nations has remained elusive, which further delays critical action to tackle plastic pollution and capture the economic benefits that effective harmonised regulation would bring. This round of negotiations has failed to deliver the certainty that business needs to further mobilise investment and scale solutions to address plastic pollution. 

We are however encouraged by the increased clarity achieved through three years of negotiations on the globally harmonised regulations across the full lifecycle of plastics needed to effectively tackle plastic pollution, and by the alignment among over 100 countries on the key elements  – including phase-outs, product design, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). We reiterate our call for consistent and harmonised regulation on these elements. 

This progress is something that we can and must build on. As businesses, we will continue working together to drive solutions but we know voluntary efforts alone will not be enough. We now urge governments to explore all options to make an agreement based on harmonised regulations across the full lifecycle of plastics a reality. 

We, the 300+ members of the Business Coalition, stand ready to work with policymakers across the world in support of the globally harmonised regulations that business needs, and the majority of nations want.

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“We’re disappointed at the lack of an agreement at INC5.2. These talks must translate to tangible action. There is cause for optimism; the strong alignment among governments, business and civil society groups calling for a treaty with harmonised regulations across the full lifecycle of plastics is encouraging. Harmonised regulations are essential to reduce business complexity and cost, whilst also increasing confidence to invest in solutions. We will continue our efforts to tackle plastic pollution and stand ready to support governments to deliver globally coordinated regulations.” – Rebecca Marmot, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, Unilever

“We regret that no agreement for a global plastics treaty was reached in Geneva. The value chains for production, consumption and handling of plastics after use are international in nature, and a global treaty would be the absolute best way to tackle the massive challenges to nature, health and the climate that unregulated use of plastic represents. Today, only 9% of plastics is recycled. TOMRA remains determined to leverage our technology and insights from half a century’s work to promote circularity, aiding regulators, businesses and societies across the globe in their efforts to accelerate change and support policy harmonisation.” – Tove Andersen, President and CEO, TOMRA

“We are at a unique moment in time, where business, civil society and many governments are calling for harmonized regulation to tackle plastic pollution. An ambitious treaty addressing the full lifecycle of plastic can drive consistency across borders, support national ambitions, and provide the lowest cost option to effectively address plastic pollution. Voluntary efforts are not enough, and the current fragmented regulatory landscape results in increased costs and complexity for business.” – Jodie Roussell, Global Public Affairs Lead, Packaging & Sustainability, Nestlé

“While progress was made at INC 5.2, more work needs to be done to support the harmonized implementation of effective EPR programs in more countries across the globe. Well-designed EPR programs can help close the recycling infrastructure gap, but not enough effective programs exist. Global principles can pave the way for accelerated action at the national level.” – Anke Boykin, Senior Director Global Environmental Policy, PepsiCo

‍About the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty

The Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty – convened by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and WWF in September 2022 – gives voice to more than 300 businesses from across the plastics value chain, financial institutions and NGO partners. Together we are asking for an ambitious UN treaty that brings plastics into a circular economy, stopping them becoming waste or pollution.