Negotiations move a step closer to finalising an internationally binding treaty to end plastic pollution

Efforts to finalise a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution moved a step forward at the fourth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) in Ottawa, Canada, which concluded on Monday after almost a week of negotiations that saw global leaders, civil society and industry lobbyists seek a solution for one of the most pressing environmental issues. 

It’s been two years since the INC-3 in Nairobi, Kenya, saw the adoption of a draft treaty to end plastic pollution.  

Read more in Daily Maverick: Plastic, plastic everywhere – decades of talking moves closer to global action

“To stop plastic pollution, we need to start at the start and end at the end,” said Inger Andersen, executive director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) at the opening plenary of INC-4.

“This means crafting an instrument that ensures we use fewer virgin materials and less problematic plastic. That we avoid exposure to harmful chemicals. That we design for circularity. That we use, reuse and recycle resources more efficiently. This is the instrument we need to protect human and ecosystem health — while ensuring a just transition and space for the private sector to thrive in a new sustainable economy,” 

Plastic production peaked after World War 2, offering investors a cheap, light and durable material that could be used in industries such as technology, medicine and transport. 

The breakdown of these materials as they move from land to sea and interact with natural elements creates microplastics, which have been detected in marine organisms from plankton to whales, in commercial seafood, and even in drinking water.  

The growth of the plastic industry also saw a huge increase in single-use plastics, which account for about 40% of the more than 430 million tonnes of plastic produced a year. 

Read more in Daily Maverick: SA to push for financial support in internationally binding plastic pollution treaty

Clock ticking