85 global organisations have announced a common vision for an “effective and ambitious” Global Treaty to End Plastic Pollution, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation says.
The Foundation says the vision will form the basis for future policy engagements with governments through a newly launched Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty which will be convened by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and WWF.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation continues that the organisations involved, including major global businesses, financial institutions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), see the global treaty as the single most important opportunity to accelerate progress towards a circular economy in which plastic never becomes waste or pollution, and the value of products and materials is retained in the economy.
Commenting on the announcement, Executive Lead – Systemic Initiatives, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Rob Opsomer, said: “This coalition will bring together businesses from across the plastics value chain to support the development of an ambitious and effective treaty –
“one that accelerates the transition to a circular economy and ensures the value of products and materials is not lost but retained. Plastic can no longer be allowed to become waste or pollution.”
Plastic can no longer be allowed to become waste or pollution.
The treaty negotiation process, which is expected to conclude at the end of 2024, will largely determine the trajectory of the plastic pollution crisis for generations to come, the Foundation says.
The endorsing organisations are calling out the need for a global treaty which sets common goals, rules and obligations that member states will be required to implement within their national jurisdictions.
The endorsing organisations also agree that the treaty must support progress on several key outcomes including the reduction of plastic production and use through a circular economy approach, increased circulation of necessary plastic and the prevention and remediation of hard-to-abate micro- and macro-plastic leakage into the environment.
Erin Simon, Vice President and Head of Plastic Waste and Business at WWF, said: “The plastic crisis extends beyond all borders, impacting the health of our oceans and wildlife, and the livelihoods of people from major cities to small coastal communities. The scope and scale of this global issue must be met with equally ambitious solutions.
“We have no time to waste. The need for global coordination to tackle the plastic pollution crisis has never been more urgent, a Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treatywill push strongly for a framework that leaves the business-as-usual approach at the door and ushers us into a new era where ending plastic pollution is finally within reach.”