Page 53 - Plastic News Issue August 2025
P. 53
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Somewhere in middle is the United States, which In June, the Business Coalition for a Global Plas-
has sided with both groups. While it previous- tics Treaty, a group of more than 290 business-
ly had aligned more closely with China, Saudi es, financial institutions and NGOs, published an
Arabia and Russia, advocating for a focus on open letter to negotiators urging an agreement
a circular economy for plastics and addressing on harmonized regulations to end plastic pollu-
production design and scrap management, the tion.
Biden administration shifted course in the sum-
mer months of 2024, instead supporting a glob- “Business supports harmonized regulations be-
al target to reduce yearly plastic production and cause they drive consistency across borders
create a chemical phaseout list, aligning it more while supporting national ambitions and pro-
closely with the majority group, which includes vide the lowest cost option to effectively ad-
Canada, Mexico, South Korea and European Un- dress plastic pollution,” the group writes. “Vol-
ion member states. untary efforts are not enough, and the current
fragmented regulatory landscape results in in-
While the U.S. has shown interest in voluntary creased costs and complexity.
production caps and minimum design and per-
formance standards on plastic products, the “With a pivotal opportunity at INC-5.2, we urge
Trump administration’s stance on the treaty and you to support a treaty that includes provisions
its goals remains unclear as negotiations begin. for harmonized regulations on key elements, in-
cluding phaseouts, product design and extend-
During a July hearing conducted by the U.S. ed producer responsibility [EPR]. Enabled by a
House of Representatives Committee on Energy fair financing mechanism, such measures would
and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, help support sustainable levels of production
ranking member Frank Pallone of New Jersey, a and consumption of plastics globally, ensure a
Democrat, addressed the upcoming treaty talks level playing field for businesses and support all
in his opening remarks. countries to deliver on their national ambitions.”
“Like the climate crisis, plastic pollution is a glob- Also in June, representatives of 95 countries
al problem that warrants ambitious cooperation published “The Nice Call for an Ambitious Treaty
from the international community,” he said. “The on Plastic Pollution,” or the “Nice Wakeup Call,”
U.S. delegation must continue to be a strong which stated a similar position to the business
voice at the global plastics treaty negotiations coalition.
next month. We should not take a backseat or
accept weaker standards.” “We are heartened by the constructive engage-
ment of the majority of Intergovernmental Ne-
The call to action gotiating Committee members to conclude an
effective treaty that is urgently needed, ac-
A host of nongovernmental organizations knowledging the scale of socioeconomic chal-
(NGOs) and stakeholders have expressed their lenges that ending plastic pollution may repre-
desire to see the adoption of a binding agree- sent for certain parties,” the letter states, adding
ment at INC-5.2.
that certain points are key to reaching an agree-
August 2025 PLASTICS NEWS 53
