Page 37 - Plastic News Issue August 2025
P. 37
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
PLASTICS TREATY: WWF URGES GOVERNMENT ACTION
(The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has to near completion is exactly what the planet
called on governments to support a strong needed, but it was never going to be without
plastics pollution treaty ahead of the final round challenges.
of negotiations in Geneva next month.)
“As we approach the final stretch, negotiators
he second part of the fifth session of must remember why we’re here. Our planet
the Intergovernmental Negotiating is overwhelmed by plastics waste, and it’s
TCommittee (INC 5.2), due to run from 5 impacting everyone and everything that
to 14 August, is the last in a series of meetings calls this planet home. At the start of these
negotiations, the global community collectively
agreed enough was enough, now is the moment
to come together to deliver a path forward.”
Potential economic benefits
Plastics pollution continues to increase, with an
estimated 30,000 tonnes entering the oceans
each day.
launched in 2022 after countries committed to According to the WWF, the longer action is de-
negotiating a legally binding treaty to tackle layed, the greater the impact will be on both the
plastics pollution. environment and human health.
The WWF said that if a robust outcome is The organisation has also pointed to potential
not secured now, future efforts to address economic benefits from a strong agreement,
the problem may be more difficult and more such as lower costs for public authorities, job
expensive. creation and improved competitiveness.
Although most countries remain in favour of a The WWF said the treaty should include bans on
treaty with global rules, the WWF said a smaller the most harmful plastics products and chemi-
group has continued to oppose key provisions. cals, requirements for safer product design to
Governments should consider all procedural support reuse and recycling, financial and tech-
options available to ensure that progress is nical assistance for developing countries, and a
made and a meaningful agreement is reached, system to allow the treaty to be reviewed and
it added. strengthened over time.
Erin Simon, vice-president and head of plastics The outcome of the Geneva talks is expected to
waste and business at the WWF, said: “The determine how the international community will
speed at which the treaty went from conception address plastics pollution in the years ahead.
August 2025 PLASTICS NEWS 37
