Draft Zero Release on the Global Treaty to End Plastic Pollution

The United Nations Environment Programme have released the zero draft report for the Global Treaty to End Plastic Pollution. This draft will be debated at INC-3 which will take place in Nairobi between 13 – 19 November. The BPF have registered to attend INC-3. The BPF are also engaging with UK government on the Global Treaty directly and also as part of the UK dialogues.

As an overall document the draft zero report covers many key aspects which need to be addressed. Measures on increasing infrastructure for waste management in particular are welcome as a practical way to keep plastic out of the environment. There is a call for tighter requirements on the export of plastic which could help deal with waste crime. There are also requirements for the minimum use of recycled content in products which could help stimulate the recycling sector as well as requirements for design (although no detail). Furthermore, there is an ambition to clean up some plastic pollution in hotspots.  However, it is disappointing to see a focus on capping the use of plastic production and reducing the use of plastic without considering its use and the environmental, health and social benefit its use is achieving.

At this early stage there is a lack of detail across all the areas making the focus of some proposals unclear, for example there is a measure to ban items but no clarity on what these items might be. This makes it hard to understand fully the direction of the treaty and where requirements would align to legislative changes already being established in the UK already.

The BPF have produced a position statement on the Global Treaty on Plastic Pollution.