South Africa vows relentless fight against plastic pollution amid global treaty deadlock

SOUTH AFRICA – South Africa has vowed to press ahead with decisive action against plastic pollution despite the collapse of high-stakes negotiations in Geneva aimed at delivering the world’s first binding plastics treaty.

In a statement, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment said the talks fell apart due to “deep divisions between nations and the absence of a clear process to resolve the deadlock.”

Minister Dr Dion George expressed disappointment at the outcome but stressed that South Africa’s determination remains unshaken.

“While the lack of agreement is frustrating, South Africa will not waver in our fight to end plastic pollution and create a fair, practical regulatory environment,” George said.

The country has already begun phasing out single-use plastics and microbeads, strengthened controls on imported plastics, and introduced extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations anchored in the “polluter pays” principle.

These measures, officials say, hold producers accountable for the full life cycle of their products.

George also highlighted growing concerns over toxic chemicals and the infiltration of microplastics into food systems.

“It is unacceptable that microplastics are found everywhere, including in our bodies. We will act decisively to protect public health,” he warned.

South Africa has resisted rigid global caps on plastic production, arguing instead for market-driven incentives to encourage businesses toward sustainability.

Collaboration with industry, civil society, and global partners, the minister added, will be vital to building a circular economy where “sustainable practices are the norm, not the exception.”

These commitments come in the wake of a setback at the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) session in Geneva, where nearly 100 countries had pushed for a treaty to limit plastic production and curb waste.

Opposition from oil-producing nations and lobbying from petrochemical giants, however, stalled momentum as talks entered their final day.

At the core of the dispute is whether the treaty should focus primarily on recycling and waste management, or also tackle production, the root driver of the crisis.

Environmental groups warn that without addressing production, plastic waste, projected to triple by 2060, will continue polluting oceans, harming biodiversity, and threatening human health.

The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has called the agreement “the most significant environmental treaty since Paris 2015.”

South Africa will now carry its agenda forward on the global stage when it hosts the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Ministerial in Cape Town in October 2025, where plastics, waste, and chemicals will be central to discussions.

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