UN Plastic Treaty talks at stalemate as global support builds

Five rounds of negotiations failed to yield a consensus at the final talks of the UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee Treaty (UN INC-5) in Busan, South Korea in 2024. Fossil fuel-producing nations, such as Saudi Arabia, and heavy plastic material producers, such as China, opposed the proposals. Interestingly, India also raised objections to regulating the production of primary plastic polymers, citing developmental implications. A signing of a treaty is anticipated this year.

GlobalData, a data and analytics company, noted that the Plastic Pollution Treaty would include measures to cap plastic production, ban single-use plastics, and provide financial support to less developed regions for implementing the policy. These measures aim to address global plastic waste, which is expected to triple by 2060, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) data.

Jamie Cosaitis, packaging consumer insights consultant and analyst at GlobalData, said, “Unlike other UN treaties, the UN INC-5 Plastic Pollution Treaty is set to be legally binding and consequently one of the most influential sustainability agreements in recent years. The Treaty's implementation of caps and bans on virgin and single-use plastics is set to reduce the overall volume of plastic entering the market and force companies to adhere to mandatory design amendments, which should accelerate innovation.”

So far, over 20 CEOs from major consumer goods companies, including Nestlé, PepsiCo, and Danone, have voiced their support for a "legally binding UN treaty" to end plastic pollution. Consumer demand for sustainable packaging bolsters this effort. According to a GlobalData Q3 2024 survey, 47% of consumers prioritise ethical and environmentally friendly products, while 73% consider recyclable packaging an important factor in their purchasing decisions.

The treaty is expected to encourage innovation in sustainable materials like "paperisation" and biodegradable alternatives. While promising, paper-based packaging still faces challenges in functionality and protection throughout the supply chain. Companies are also developing biodegradable barrier coatings and polymers, but these remain expensive compared to plastic packaging.

Advocating for a circular economy, companies emphasise reusable designs and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to address plastic waste. Deposit Return Schemes (DRS), which have proven successful in Germany, are gaining global traction but face delays in some regions. For instance, the UK postponed its DRS adoption until 2027.

Cosaitis added, “Packaging materials innovation will play an important role in reducing plastic waste and developing the circular economy; however, the costs of alternative materials will need to be reduced further before widespread adoption can be achieved.”