The European Commission is participating in negotiations on the Global Plastics Treaty (INC-5.2) in Geneva, Switzerland, with the aim of reaching an effective agreement to address the pressing issue of plastic pollution.
According to UNEP data from 2021, global plastic production has reached a staggering 400 million tons per year, yet a mere 12% is incinerated and only 9% is recycled, leaving a substantial amount of plastic waste to contaminate the environment, including oceans and rivers.
Because of these alarming statistics, the EU is advocating for a treaty that addresses the entire life cycle of plastics, from production to disposal, and includes measures to phase out certain plastic products that pose a significant risk to human health and the environment. The EU will also continue advocating for effective provisions on environmentally sound management on plastic waste.
The negotiations, which run until August 14, follow a previous session in December 2024 that made significant progress towards a deal but ultimately failed to reach an agreement.
You can find more information on the negotiations online.
