Latest news with #aGlobalPlasticsTreaty
Leader Live
5 days ago
- Business
- Leader Live
UN plastic pollution talks fail again with negotiators rejecting draft treaties
Delegates were seeking to complete a legally binding international agreement during a 10-day conference in Geneva, Switzerland. But the talks ended in overtime on Friday morning without a deal after countries rejected these drafts as the basis for negotiations. Negotiators struggled to break a deadlock over key issues, particularly whether the treaty should curb the exponential growth of plastics production. Over the past few days, Luis Vayas Valdivieso, the chair of the negotiating committee, gathered views from the representatives of 184 countries before writing two drafts of treaty text. But countries ultimately rejected the texts as the basis for negotiations as they failed to bridge major rifts between different groups of countries. The so-called 'high ambition coalition', including the UK, have been calling for binding obligations on reducing production and consumption, sustainable product design, environmentally sound management of plastic waste and clean-up of pollution. But a smaller number of oil-rich nations including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait said the drafts lacked balance as they have argued that plastic production is outside the scope of the treaty. Environment campaigners and a coalition of businesses praised the high ambition countries for holding the line for a strong deal and said no treaty was better than a weak one but warned of the urgency to tackle the growing crisis. Once in the environment, plastic waste can entangle, choke or be eaten by wildlife and livestock, clog up waterways and litter beaches, while bigger items break down into microplastics entering food chains. And producing plastic, primarily from fossil fuel oil, has a climate impact, with the World in Data and OECD saying 3.3% of global emissions is down to the production and management of global plastics. Since talks began in 2022, countries have taken part in several rounds of negotiations to reach consensus on tackling the issue. The Geneva talks were arranged after what was originally meant to be the final round of talks in Busan, South Korea, also ended without an agreement in November. It is understood that another round of negotiations will be organised when the location and money for it is found. The Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, which represents 200 companies including Nestle, PepsiCo Walmart, Tetra Pak and Unilever, said it was 'disappointed' by the lack of an agreement, but said there is 'cause for optimism'. Rebecca Marmot, chief sustainability and corporate affairs officer at Unilever, said: 'The strong alignment among governments, business and civil society groups calling for a treaty with harmonised regulations across the full lifecycle of plastics is encouraging. 'Harmonised regulations are essential to reduce business complexity and cost, whilst also increasing confidence to invest in solutions.' Jodie Roussell, global public affairs lead for packaging and sustainability at Nestle, said: 'Voluntary efforts are not enough, and the current fragmented regulatory landscape results in increased costs and complexity for business.' Graham Forbes, Greenpeace's head of delegation at the talks, said: 'The inability to reach an agreement in Geneva must be a wake-up call for the world: ending plastic pollution means confronting fossil fuel interests head-on. 'The vast majority of governments want a strong agreement, yet a handful of bad actors were allowed to use process to drive such ambition into the ground. 'We cannot continue to do the same thing and expect a different result. The time for hesitation is over.' Christina Dixon, Ocean Campaign at the Environmental Investigation Agency, said: 'The supposedly final round of negotiations for a new global plastics treaty exposed deep geopolitical divides and a troubling resistance to confronting the real drivers of plastic pollution. 'No deal is better than a toothless treaty that locks us into further inaction, but without urgent course correction, efforts to secure a plastics treaty risks becoming a shield for polluters, not a solution to the plastics crisis.' Sian Sutherland, co-founder of A Plastic Planet at the Plastic Health Council: 'The high ambition coalition and civil society built extraordinary solidarity over these negotiations — a unity that transcended traditional boundaries. 'The fact that this could not overcome a process so fundamentally compromised by the narrow interests of the tiny fraction reaping massive financial rewards reveals the urgent need to reform how we make planetary decisions.'
Western Telegraph
5 days ago
- Business
- Western Telegraph
UN plastic pollution talks fail again with negotiators rejecting draft treaties
Delegates were seeking to complete a legally binding international agreement during a 10-day conference in Geneva, Switzerland. But the talks ended in overtime on Friday morning without a deal after countries rejected these drafts as the basis for negotiations. Negotiators struggled to break a deadlock over key issues, particularly whether the treaty should curb the exponential growth of plastics production. Over the past few days, Luis Vayas Valdivieso, the chair of the negotiating committee, gathered views from the representatives of 184 countries before writing two drafts of treaty text. But countries ultimately rejected the texts as the basis for negotiations as they failed to bridge major rifts between different groups of countries. The so-called 'high ambition coalition', including the UK, have been calling for binding obligations on reducing production and consumption, sustainable product design, environmentally sound management of plastic waste and clean-up of pollution. But a smaller number of oil-rich nations including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait said the drafts lacked balance as they have argued that plastic production is outside the scope of the treaty. Environment campaigners and a coalition of businesses praised the high ambition countries for holding the line for a strong deal and said no treaty was better than a weak one but warned of the urgency to tackle the growing crisis. Once in the environment, plastic waste can entangle, choke or be eaten by wildlife and livestock, clog up waterways and litter beaches, while bigger items break down into microplastics entering food chains. And producing plastic, primarily from fossil fuel oil, has a climate impact, with the World in Data and OECD saying 3.3% of global emissions is down to the production and management of global plastics. Since talks began in 2022, countries have taken part in several rounds of negotiations to reach consensus on tackling the issue. The Geneva talks were arranged after what was originally meant to be the final round of talks in Busan, South Korea, also ended without an agreement in November. It is understood that another round of negotiations will be organised when the location and money for it is found. The Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, which represents 200 companies including Nestle, PepsiCo Walmart, Tetra Pak and Unilever, said it was 'disappointed' by the lack of an agreement, but said there is 'cause for optimism'. Rebecca Marmot, chief sustainability and corporate affairs officer at Unilever, said: 'The strong alignment among governments, business and civil society groups calling for a treaty with harmonised regulations across the full lifecycle of plastics is encouraging. 'Harmonised regulations are essential to reduce business complexity and cost, whilst also increasing confidence to invest in solutions.' Jodie Roussell, global public affairs lead for packaging and sustainability at Nestle, said: 'Voluntary efforts are not enough, and the current fragmented regulatory landscape results in increased costs and complexity for business.' Graham Forbes, Greenpeace's head of delegation at the talks, said: 'The inability to reach an agreement in Geneva must be a wake-up call for the world: ending plastic pollution means confronting fossil fuel interests head-on. 'The vast majority of governments want a strong agreement, yet a handful of bad actors were allowed to use process to drive such ambition into the ground. 'We cannot continue to do the same thing and expect a different result. The time for hesitation is over.' Christina Dixon, Ocean Campaign at the Environmental Investigation Agency, said: 'The supposedly final round of negotiations for a new global plastics treaty exposed deep geopolitical divides and a troubling resistance to confronting the real drivers of plastic pollution. 'No deal is better than a toothless treaty that locks us into further inaction, but without urgent course correction, efforts to secure a plastics treaty risks becoming a shield for polluters, not a solution to the plastics crisis.' Sian Sutherland, co-founder of A Plastic Planet at the Plastic Health Council: 'The high ambition coalition and civil society built extraordinary solidarity over these negotiations — a unity that transcended traditional boundaries. 'The fact that this could not overcome a process so fundamentally compromised by the narrow interests of the tiny fraction reaping massive financial rewards reveals the urgent need to reform how we make planetary decisions.'
Rhyl Journal
5 days ago
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
UN plastic pollution talks fail again with negotiators rejecting draft treaties
Delegates were seeking to complete a legally binding international agreement during a 10-day conference in Geneva, Switzerland. But the talks ended in overtime on Friday morning without a deal after countries rejected these drafts as the basis for negotiations. Negotiators struggled to break a deadlock over key issues, particularly whether the treaty should curb the exponential growth of plastics production. Over the past few days, Luis Vayas Valdivieso, the chair of the negotiating committee, gathered views from the representatives of 184 countries before writing two drafts of treaty text. But countries ultimately rejected the texts as the basis for negotiations as they failed to bridge major rifts between different groups of countries. The so-called 'high ambition coalition', including the UK, have been calling for binding obligations on reducing production and consumption, sustainable product design, environmentally sound management of plastic waste and clean-up of pollution. But a smaller number of oil-rich nations including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait said the drafts lacked balance as they have argued that plastic production is outside the scope of the treaty. Environment campaigners and a coalition of businesses praised the high ambition countries for holding the line for a strong deal and said no treaty was better than a weak one but warned of the urgency to tackle the growing crisis. Once in the environment, plastic waste can entangle, choke or be eaten by wildlife and livestock, clog up waterways and litter beaches, while bigger items break down into microplastics entering food chains. And producing plastic, primarily from fossil fuel oil, has a climate impact, with the World in Data and OECD saying 3.3% of global emissions is down to the production and management of global plastics. Since talks began in 2022, countries have taken part in several rounds of negotiations to reach consensus on tackling the issue. The Geneva talks were arranged after what was originally meant to be the final round of talks in Busan, South Korea, also ended without an agreement in November. It is understood that another round of negotiations will be organised when the location and money for it is found. The Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, which represents 200 companies including Nestle, PepsiCo Walmart, Tetra Pak and Unilever, said it was 'disappointed' by the lack of an agreement, but said there is 'cause for optimism'. Rebecca Marmot, chief sustainability and corporate affairs officer at Unilever, said: 'The strong alignment among governments, business and civil society groups calling for a treaty with harmonised regulations across the full lifecycle of plastics is encouraging. 'Harmonised regulations are essential to reduce business complexity and cost, whilst also increasing confidence to invest in solutions.' Jodie Roussell, global public affairs lead for packaging and sustainability at Nestle, said: 'Voluntary efforts are not enough, and the current fragmented regulatory landscape results in increased costs and complexity for business.' Graham Forbes, Greenpeace's head of delegation at the talks, said: 'The inability to reach an agreement in Geneva must be a wake-up call for the world: ending plastic pollution means confronting fossil fuel interests head-on. 'The vast majority of governments want a strong agreement, yet a handful of bad actors were allowed to use process to drive such ambition into the ground. 'We cannot continue to do the same thing and expect a different result. The time for hesitation is over.' Christina Dixon, Ocean Campaign at the Environmental Investigation Agency, said: 'The supposedly final round of negotiations for a new global plastics treaty exposed deep geopolitical divides and a troubling resistance to confronting the real drivers of plastic pollution. 'No deal is better than a toothless treaty that locks us into further inaction, but without urgent course correction, efforts to secure a plastics treaty risks becoming a shield for polluters, not a solution to the plastics crisis.' Sian Sutherland, co-founder of A Plastic Planet at the Plastic Health Council: 'The high ambition coalition and civil society built extraordinary solidarity over these negotiations — a unity that transcended traditional boundaries. 'The fact that this could not overcome a process so fundamentally compromised by the narrow interests of the tiny fraction reaping massive financial rewards reveals the urgent need to reform how we make planetary decisions.'
Forbes
11-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Campaigners Welcome ‘Wake-Up Call' For Global Plastics Treaty
Campaigners have welcomed a joint declaration from more than 90 governments around the world for an 'effective and ambitious' global plastic pollution treaty. The declaration, entitled 'the Nice wake up call for an ambitious plastics treaty' was issued at the UN Ocean Conference in France yesterday (9 June) and warns an effective plastics treaty is urgently needed. Negotiations around a global treaty to curb plastic pollution have been going on for several years and are due to resume again later this summer, in Geneva. The new declaration calls for a legally binding obligation to phase out the most problematic plastic products and chemicals of concern in plastic products and another to improve the design of plastic products. 'We call for an effective and ambitious treaty that can evolve over time and is responsive to changes in emerging evidence and knowledge,' the declaration states. 'To this end, the treaty should provide for the possibility of decision-making, through regular UN procedures if all efforts to reach consensus have been exhausted.' It also warns a treaty which relies on voluntary measures or does not address the full lifecycle of plastics will not be effective to deal with the challenge of plastic pollution. Erin Simon, vice president, plastic waste & business at the World Wildlife Fund said the statement sends a positive signal that there is strong support to secure a legally binding treaty, in a statement. Simon added with just two months before the next round of negotiations get underway, it is essential countries come to the negotiation table ready to get to work on a treaty that both people and planet deserve. 'Millions of people around the world have called for a solution to the plastic pollution crisis and while today is a step in the right direction we must continue to push toward advancing a meaningful and enduring agreement in Geneva,' said Simon. Rob Opsomer, executive lead for plastics and finance at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, said the statement demonstrates significant ambition in global efforts to end plastic pollution, and reinstates the urgent need to shift to a circular economy, in a statement. Opsomer added the inclusion of 'product design', amongst the points key to reach an agreement, is especially impactful. 'Design is indeed critical to addressing plastic pollution, and it's encouraging to see it rightly recognised by a majority of countries as a key lever for achieving meaningful and lasting impact to end plastic pollution,' he added. 'We call on governments to agree on a treaty in Geneva that turns the tide on plastic pollution, enables a circular economy and delivers strong positive social and economic impact.' The Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty also welcomed the widespread support for a strong treaty in a statement. It added it builds on momentum seen at previous conferences and reflects strong alignment between countries, businesses and civil society on the need for a comprehensive legally binding global agreement that addresses the full lifecycle of plastics. 'Besides harmonisation on key areas, there is also a need for a globally harmonised approach for national extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes, with key principles and minimum requirements,' the statement said. And Jodie Roussell, global public affairs lead - packaging and sustainability at Nestlé and co-chair of the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, said the declaration also sends a strong signal that governments are ready to commit to harmonised regulation.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Unilever pledges to make all plastic packaging recyclable by 2035
Unilever has announced its commitment to ensure all its plastic packaging becomes reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2030 for rigid plastic and by 2035 for flexible plastic. As part of this initiative, the company has been testing refill pilot projects around the world, aiming to reduce the use of virgin plastic and address the issue of plastic sachet waste. Since 2018, the company has initiated more than 50 refill and reuse pilot projects. The business stated that the knowledge gained from these initiatives is shaping its strategies to cut down on single-use plastic packaging. In Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, Unilever's teams have adapted refill solutions to suit local market conditions. In Indonesia, a refill model was tested, with motorcycle drivers selling products door-to-door from large jerry cans. Although the high operational costs made scaling this model 'challenging', the simple pouring system proved effective. In Bangladesh, self-service refill machines were trialled in 2021. However, maintenance of these machines proved difficult. Working with Bopinc, a TRANSFORM-funded organisation, a more scalable, user-friendly, cost-effective machine was developed for Bangladesh that fitted on store counters. According to Unilever, scaling reusable packaging models requires a collaborative effort across the supply chain, including manufacturers, retailers, waste management bodies, and governments. Unilever said that it is advocating for supportive regulations and working with entities such as the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, the World Economic Forum, and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to establish common reuse definitions and metrics. Last month, Unilever Bangladesh advanced sustainability in the country with the URefill initiative, incorporating a machine that reduces plastic waste. "Unilever pledges to make all plastic packaging recyclable by 2035" was originally created and published by Packaging Gateway, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
