A Guide to the Global Agreement to End Plastic Pollution
Years of negotiations between countries to agree on a treaty to tackle the scourge of plastic pollution are coming to a head in August 2025 in Geneva—but an ambitious treaty is far from certain.
Key Messages
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All states agree plastic waste management is a priority. The challenge lies in ensuring waste is managed in an environmentally sound manner. Areas for possible convergence include container deposit schemes for highly recyclable products like drink bottles and engineered landfills.
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Perhaps the most contentious aspect of the talks is the proposed global production reduction target. While some states support ambitious targets, others are concerned about the economic impact of reducing plastic production, which would hit profits and livelihoods.
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By targeting well-documented and widely recognized chemicals of concern in single-use plastic products, some believe the treaty can achieve early wins in reducing the impact of harmful chemicals.
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Longer-lasting plastic products result in less plastic waste over time. By designing products that are more durable, reusable, refillable, refurbishable, repairable, and (where environmentally sound) recyclable, the tide of single-use plastic waste can be stemmed.
Plastic pollution has emerged as one of the most pressing environmental crises of our time, affecting ecosystems, human health, and economies worldwide. Recognizing the urgency of this issue, countries at the United Nations Environment Assembly adopted a resolution in March 2022 to initiate negotiations on an international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. The resolution established an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), which has met multiple times to try to determine an agreement.
This guide serves as a resource for understanding the ongoing negotiations, key issues at stake, and roles of different stakeholders in shaping the future agreement. It provides insights into the political, scientific, economic, and legal dimensions of the treaty process, drawing from past multilateral environmental agreements and the lessons learned from the INC sessions. The guide is structured to help policy-makers and stakeholders navigate the complexities of these talks and contribute meaningfully to an effective treaty on plastic pollution.
Written in the intersessional period between INC-5.1 in Busan and INC-5.2 in Geneva, the report unpacks the history of the talks to end plastic pollution, reviews key parts of the instrument under discussion, and identifies stakeholders shaping the talks. Finally, it offers negotiating "tips and tricks" to help those at the final INC take these discussions over the finish line.
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