The Global Plastic Treaty emerged from a resolution adopted at the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) in March 2022, where 175 nations agreed to negotiate a treaty by the end of 2024 to tackle plastic pollution on a global scale. Unlike earlier efforts which primarily focused on plastic waste and recycling, the treaty adopts a life-cycle approach. This holistic perspective targets plastic extraction, production, product design, use, consumption, disposal, and waste management, thereby aiming to curb pollution at its source as well as its downstream impacts.
At the heart of the treaty are several core principles and proposed measures essential to its ambition. The treaty envisions legally binding targets that regulate the production and consumption of plastics, including ambitious goals to phase out single-use plastics and restrict harmful chemical additives found in plastic products. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) forms a critical mechanism, holding manufacturers accountable for the environmental footprint of their products throughout their lifecycle, including post-consumer waste. The treaty also underscores the need for transparency in chemical use, promoting safe alternatives and a circular economy while safeguarding public health.
In addition to environmental concerns, the treaty reflects a commitment to social justice by addressing the rights and livelihoods of informal waste pickers, often marginalized in waste management systems. It mandates financial and technological support from developed countries to enable equitable participation by developing nations. Furthermore, the treaty aims to harmonize efforts by aligning with existing global agreements such as the Paris Climate Accord and the Basel Convention, recognizing the interconnectedness of plastic pollution with climate change and hazardous waste.
Despite widespread support for the treaty’s objectives, negotiations have faced significant challenges. The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), responsible for drafting the treaty, convened multiple sessions between 2022 and 2025. The most recent talks, held in Geneva in August 2025, ended without agreement. Key points of contention include the scope of production limits and chemical regulations, with oil and gas-producing countries resisting strict caps on plastic manufacturing. Financial mechanisms and enforcement provisions also remain unresolved, deepening divisions among member states.
The collapse of the August 2025 negotiations represents a setback in the global effort to establish a unified response to plastic pollution. However, it also highlights the complexity of balancing diverse national interests and economic dependencies within an international legal framework. In response, advocates call for intensified national and regional actions complemented by renewed diplomatic efforts to break the deadlock. The overarching goal remains to achieve a treaty capable of driving meaningful reductions in plastic pollution by 2040.
Written by Nana Ama
