Solving Plastic Pollution Demands Strong, Comprehensive International Action

Plastic pollution threatens our environment as well as the health and prospects of current and future generations. Achieving meaningful reductions in that pollution will require immediate and ambitious actions throughout the full life cycle of plastics and—as The Pew Charitable Trusts found in our 2020 report “Breaking the Plastic Wave”—systemic change by governments, businesses, the public and other stakeholders.

In one positive sign, the United Nations is negotiating what is known as an international legally binding instrument (ILBI) aimed at curbing plastic pollution. Those discussions are bringing together diverse stakeholders to create a regulatory framework to guide solutions to this global problem.

This month, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) working toward the ILBI will meet for a third time to continue developing this agreement. The meeting, in Nairobi, Kenya, will focus on what negotiators call the Zero Draft, which was published earlier this year as a starting point for discussions. The draft includes policy options that could lead to meaningful reductions in plastic pollution, including provisions that could reduce the production and demand for plastic, restrict chemicals of concern, ban certain problematic and avoidable plastic products, improve product design, promote reuse systems and help address microplastic emissions.

Pew strongly supports the comprehensive nature of the Zero Draft. However, the success of this treaty hinges on countries supporting more ambitious options, such as setting international targets and agreed-upon lists of products to be restricted rather than leaving it up to countries to determine their contributions at the national level.

Here are three of the key issues that the committee should address during INC3 and future meetings; each of these should be included in the final text of the ILBI:

• Stemming plastics at the source. Reducing the production and supply of virgin plastic is vital to limiting pollution. Alongside this, we recommend incorporating trade provisions that restrict the trade of primary plastic polymers between non-parties and parties to the agreement. Furthermore, removing subsidies and fiscal incentives for the production of primary plastic polymers and their chemical feedstocks is important for creating an equitable market for alternative technologies and materials, including recycled materials. Measures to reduce the production and supply of virgin plastic—also known as upstream measures—must go hand-in-hand with ambitious measures to reduce demand and policies to ensure that reusable packaging becomes a norm.
• Reducing microplastics pollution. Microplastics—pieces smaller than 5 millimetres—constitute a significant portion of plastic pollution. The treaty must include binding measures to address the different sources of microplastic pollution. One example is the adoption of abrasion limits for tyres—which shed incredible amounts of microplastics—which are under development by the U.N. World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations. Additionally, the treaty should outline specific measures for the handling, storage and transport of plastic pellets, flakes and powders to prevent them from becoming pollution.
• Ensuring corporate disclosure and reporting. A mandate for corporate disclosure and reporting of plastic-related metrics will be vital for tracking progress and monitoring implementation. As the saying goes, you can’t manage what you can’t measure. It’s essential for both corporations and governments to report transparently.

These three areas represent just a handful of the policy measures in the Zero Draft. In addition to these, Pew strongly supports proposed obligations within the zero draft that span the life cycle of plastic.

A comprehensive ILBI with a robust framework for implementation will be vital to its success. This must include environmental and human health considerations and ensure a just transition for impacted populations. The agreement could help the world solve the plastic pollution problem holistically and offers a unique opportunity to foster international cooperation in tackling plastic pollution.

Solving plastic pollution is not just an environmental issue; it's a moral and ethical imperative, with major implications for all people, and especially the most vulnerable communities. It requires a system change approach, strong policies and international cooperation. Achieving this goal benefits both people and the planet, creating a cleaner, safer and more resilient environment for current and future generations. The ILBI represents an essential step towards a world free of plastic pollution. Governments and businesses must continue pushing for ambitious and comprehensive solutions to address this urgent challenge, and the negotiators at INC3 must lead the way by advancing a draft agreement that is strong and thorough enough to meet this dire challenge.

Sarah Baulch works on The Pew Charitable Trusts’ preventing ocean plastics project.