The Road to a Global Plastics Treaty

The Fourth Meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4)

The fourth meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, took place from 23 until 29 April 2024 in Ottawa, Canada.

This meeting was 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. 

INC-4 Recap

With several discussions, many rounds of text streamlining, along with multiple readings, revisions, and regional and stakeholder consultations to explore the possibility of converging views, INC4 - the fourth negotiation session for a Global Plastics Treaty, came to an end.

During negotiations, discussions on addressing plastic pollution largely focused on downstream measures like improving waste management, recycling, repair, and reuse/refill systems. Contentious topics such as production reduction and plastic trade restrictions lacked consensus. Additionally, exploring alternative plastics and non-plastic substitutes was undervalued, hindering potential contributions to treaty goals. This highlights the need for broader consideration of innovative solutions in our efforts to combat plastic pollution.

Given the technical nature and diversity of topics being addressed via this treaty, delegations agreed on using science- and risk-based approaches to devise provisional measures of this treaty, with an interest to invite technical experts in upcoming sessions.

Despite disagreements, differing priorities, and different paths to reach a common goal, delegations made significant progress to reach a compromise for further discussions. This includes a much needed consensus among to conduct targeted intersessional work towards INC-5.

Even in reduced capacities, plastics will be just as harmful and release microplastics throughout their lifecycle. GO!PHA believes that more should be done by setting ambitious targets, diversifying the materials landscape, and promoting the use of effective and safe substitutes instead of continued use of toxic plastics.

GO!PHA’s Call to Action

In preparation for these important UN Treaty Negotiations on Plastics, GO!PHA prepared a call to action:

We applaud the United Nations' ongoing efforts in leading the initiative to combat plastic pollution, bringing nations together to address this pressing global concern. As the world grapples with the environmental challenge of plastic waste, GO!PHA calls on the United Nations and global leaders to acknowledge the vital role of safe and environmentally sound alternatives and substitutes like PHA biopolymers in mitigating this issue. We therefore urge the prominent positioning of safe and environmentally sound alternatives and substitutes in the UN Plastics Treaty negotiations.

Let's seize this opportunity to make a positive impact together, protect the Earth, and leave a legacy of environmental responsibility for future generations.

Read our full Position Statement for further insights:

Our White Paper Collection: Addressing the Plastic Pollution Challenge: Exploring Sustainable Substitutes for Positive Change

GO!PHA, in collaboration with a team of scientists and researchers, has crafted five detailed white papers. These papers cover various aspects of sustainable alternatives and substitutes to fossil-based plastics.

We shed light on natural materials, including PHA, and explore their benefits, properties, and potential roles in enabling positive change.

Our Input to Inform the Upcoming Round of Treaty Negotiations

Based on the intersessional work - statements and responses from different stakeholders, including GO!PHA - the UN published a zero-draft text for the legally binding instrument on plastic pollution.

We also prepared a Vision Statement for the Global Plastics Treaty, detailing our recommendations for the Treaty.

Further reading materials include:

• INC-4

  Here are some interesting resources regarding the fourth round of negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty (INC-4):

  • INC-4 Position Paper

  • The updated official UN Zero-Draft Text.

  • INC-4 Official UN Working Documents.

  • Nomination Process of Ad Hoc Expert Working Groups for Intersessional Work.

• INC-3

  Here are some interesting resources ahead of the third round of negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty (INC-3):

  • INC-3 Position Statement

  • The official UN Zero-Draft Text.

  • GO!PHA’s intersessional work submission ahead of INC-3.

  • UNEP Synthesis report

  • The text is now a big compilation of suggestions made by countries in three different working groups, called “contact groups”

    • CG 1 compilation (consists of sections about alternatives and substitutes, recycling, and circularity design)

    • CG 2 compilation

    • CG 3 compilation

  INC-3 Recap:
  In the third round of negotiations for the Global Plastics Treaty, a detailed and evolving conversation took place. Here's a quick overview:

  Consensus Challenges: The discussions highlighted persistent challenges in achieving consensus on crucial aspects of the treaty, such as in production and source reduction targets for existing and problematic plastics, underscoring the complexity of the global effort. It is still a long road to agreement on the content, implementation and monitoring of the potential obligations. 

  Science-Based Approach: A notable emphasis emerged on adopting a science-based approach, reflecting a collective recognition of the importance of informed decision-making in addressing the plastic crisis.

  Exploration of Alternatives and Substitutes: The negotiations delved into diverse substitutes for plastics, revealing varying opinions on their viability. Countries sought clarity on the "safety" and "suitability" of alternatives, emphasizing a targeted, sector-specific approach to minimize single-use items. Notably, non-plastic substitutes (silk, cellulose, natural polymers) were viewed more favorably than alternative plastics (bioplastics).

  Developing Nations' Advocacy: Developing nations played a prominent role, advocating for a transformative shift away from conventional waste management towards collaborative technology transfer. This signals a broader, systemic approach to the issue.

  Need for Clear Definitions: The ongoing dialogue highlighted a shared understanding of the need for clear definitions, particularly in technical terms crucial to the treaty's success, terms including “alternative plastics”, “polymers and chemicals of concern”, “non-plastic substitutes” among others. Clarity in language is recognized as pivotal for effective implementation, and proposed definitions can be found in the UNEP Synthesis Report.

• INC-2

  • GO!PHA prepared a position statement ahead of the second round of negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty (INC-2).

  • Make sure to check out the official UN INC-2 Discussion Document.

• INC-1

  Check out the official UN documents to catch up on the first session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastics Pollution (INC-1).