The fifth meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (Plastic Pollution INC-5), will take place from 25 November until 1 December in Busan (Republic of Korea). This meeting is being held pursuant to the resolution adopted by the resumed fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2), which requests the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director to convene an INC to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution.

On Thursday April 4th, 2024, GO!PHA organized a webinar on the crucial role of suitable substitutes in advancing a sustainable future within the framework of the Global UN Plastics Treaty. Check out the recording here!

Navigating the complexities of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for biobased materials illuminates a landscape marked by significant debate among stakeholders. At the heart of this discourse are the conflicting findings from various LCA studies, many of which do not consider environmental pollution, micro- and nanoplastics generation, and the long-term effects on the environment and human health, but are nonetheless being used for environmental policy making.

Suitable substitutes such as PHA have emerged as a promising solution to conventional fossil-based plastics. These substitutes are often associated with reduced environmental impact, renewable resources, and biodegradability. In this article we will provide a comprehensive overview on the diversity of safe, non-fossil substitutes and their environmental impact.

We're proud to present our Policy Manifesto for the upcoming European Commission. This document is the result of a collaborative effort involving GO!PHA and its 60+ members. It reflects our shared expectations, suggestions, and recommendations to support the European Union's sustainability goals, including the Green Deal and Circular Economy Action Plan.

We value the role of science and innovation in driving positive change. Our manifesto encourages a holistic approach to achieving these goals, emphasizing innovation and practical solutions for a more sustainable future.

Addressing plastic pollution calls for innovative solutions, and we're excited to share valuable insights into how biopolymers behave in the environment. Fossil-based plastic materials undergo various changes when exposed to the outdoors. These changes affect how long the plastic sticks around and the impact it can have. Different natural processes influence whether plastic and biopolymers break down quickly or linger.

Having seen a 20% rise in the EU's packaging waste between 2012 and 2020, and aligning with the European Green Deal and Circular Economy plan, the European Commission proposed a revision to its packaging waste directive. This directive serves as the primary regulatory framework, laying down the fundamental criteria for packaging design and composition, as well as establishing benchmarks for packaging collection and recycling within the EU. This proposal was revised in November 2022.