SOUTH AFRICA – The World Plastics Council (WPC) and members of the Global Plastics Alliance (GPA) are rallying governments to adopt an ambitious and actionable agreement.
The proposed treaty aims to significantly enhance waste management and recycling efforts worldwide.
The fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC5) is set to begin on November 25 in Busan, South Korea.
Delegates from various nations will deliberate on key issues, including the framework for the internationally legally binding instrument (ILBI), which will guide countries in addressing plastic waste.
Tailored national action plans
The WPC and GPA are advocating for the treaty to mandate national action plans, allowing countries to implement solutions best suited to their unique challenges.
These plans should include; Mandatory recycled content targets to boost demand for circular raw materials and standardized reporting mechanisms to ensure accountability and track progress.
By fostering these elements, the treaty would create market incentives for investments in collection, sorting, and recycling infrastructure.
The organizations further recommend that the treaty incorporate; Sustainable financing mechanisms to support global waste management systems; an application-based approach that recognizes the varying needs of countries; measures to facilitate trade in plastic waste while promoting plastic redesign and the integration of the informal waste sector.
“Countries face very different challenges and require different solutions. A one-size-fits-all approach cannot work. The treaty must provide flexibility for nations and regions to meet its objectives in ways that are practical for them,” explains Benny Mermans, WPC Chair.
Building circularity into plastics
The treaty’s cornerstone should be embedding circularity into the entire lifecycle of plastics, from design to recycling and end-of-life management.
Anton Hanekom, Plastics SA representative at the GPA, emphasizes, “The most effective way to achieve the treaty’s goals, while preserving the societal utility of plastics, is to make plastic waste a valuable commodity.”
As the world’s attention turns to Busan, the outcome of INC5 could shape the future of plastics and the planet, offering a critical opportunity to address one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.
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