The process started in March 2022 when a resolution was adopted by the United Nations Environment Assembly to develop a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution including in the marine environment, based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the full life cycle of plastics. Countries are aiming to have a Treaty negotiated by the end of 2024.
protect your children's health and their future
provide industry certainty through comprehensive global regulation of chemicals used in plastic
support a fair transition through a financing mechanism that incentivises innovation, remediates legacy plastic pollution and supports human health scientific research and monitoring.
Failing to address the financing gap would result, for example, in five times more mismanaged waste entering the environment annually by 2040 compared to a treaty with a Fee (50 million tonnes compared to 10 million tonnes).
This is because the chemical process of polymerisation gives plastic products the unique physical properties that make them useful to society and an environmental and human health hazard [fee paper].
collecting a contribution from producers of primary plastic polymers
distributing this contribution to countries
having countries who are parties to the Treaty agree on the amount of the contribution
the rate of the contribution being linked to the amount of primary plastic polymer produced by a company – creating a level playing field.
Failing to address the financing gap would result, for example, in five times more mismanaged waste entering the environment annually by 2040 compared to a treaty with a Fee (50 million tonnes compared to 10 million tonnes).
This is because the chemical process of polymerisation gives plastic products the unique physical properties that make them useful to society and an environmental and human health hazard [fee paper].
Producers of primary or virgin plastic polymers, the originators of all plastics pollution, should be responsible for their share of the burden, not just consumers.
Having a uniform contribution allows for equitable financial responsibility across industry towards a fair global transition.
The contribution from primary plastic polymer production will:
Support low and middle income economies in their ongoing transition
Incentivise innovation
Remediate legacy plastic pollution
Support human health scientific research and monitoring
a contribution is collected from companies for pollution caused by oil spills
revenues are redistributed to the countries or people affected
the rate is agreed to by countries party to the treaty
the rate of the contribution is uniformed, creating a level playing field.
The mechanism is:
Companies with approved projects provide a 5 per cent ‘share of proceeds’ to a centralised ‘Global Adaption Fund’.
Revenues are redistributed from this fund to the Global South.
The fee rate is uniform, irrespective of where the credit is generated, creating a level playing competitive field for companies.
There are existing conventions that regulate chemicals used in plastic – but these are not comprehensive. They either regulate a particular chemical or a particular part of a process where that chemical is used. These international conventions are then overlayed with regional and domestic frameworks. This piecemeal approach does not give industry or government certainty.
health and environmental benefits by regulating chemicals known to be harmful to human health
certainty; and decrease the regulatory burden for business and industry by providing clarity on what chemicals can and cannot be used in plastic production
the ability for science to be at the forefront of regulation by ensuring regulatory action is informed by research.
Implement control measures for chemicals of concern used in plastic and already regulated by an international, regional or domestic law or framework.
Comprehensively regulate chemicals in plastic that have properties posing a risk to human health and/or the environment.
The comprehensive regulation of harmful substances has happened before.
The world came together to protect people, ecosystems and wildlife from the effects of Mercury (a highly toxic heavy metal). A comprehensive treaty, known as the Minamata Convention, regulates all aspects of the life cycle of Mercury.
