The Great Plastic Reckoning: Plastics, Power, and the Path Ahead

Microplastics infiltrating food chains, the proliferation of plastic bags, and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch's expanding scope all underscore the imperative of mitigating plastic’s detrimental impacts. International efforts have traditionally focused on waste management and recycling, yet momentum toward a legally binding treaty addressing the entire lifecycle of plastics is accelerating. 

Treaty discussions have proposed detailed measures, including ceilings on plastic production, robust extended producer responsibility regimes, bans on single-use plastics, harmonised chemical additive and toxicity standards, in addition to financial and technical support mechanisms. Complex questions concerning natural resource sovereignty, shared accountability, and the treaty's optimal legal frameworks also remain unresolved. While these leave governments, businesses, and other stakeholders uncertain about the optimal paths toward a final treaty, the most recent draft text indicates emerging consensus on several core architectural themes. 

In this article, we explore the latest developments emerging from international plastics treaty negotiations, and highlight their significance for private actors, including corporate stakeholders, across the plastic supply chain.