NZ delegates end plastics treaty talks in Geneva

🌍 The Global Plastics Treaty: great potential for the planet, terrible for negotiators’ blood pressure? Together with Teis Hansen, Karl Holmberg, Lionel Kielhöfer, Tara Olsen, and Johannes Stripple, we’ve braved the reviewer machinery and published the article (my very first!!): 'Towards a global plastics treaty: Navigating policy preferences and economic interests.' The article analyses suggested policies from UN member states in the negotiations and explores why agreeing on a plastics treaty is proving so difficult, even after six negotiation rounds. In short: some countries want ambitious upstream rules on production, others prefer downstream waste management – and that tug-of-war risks leaving us with a treaty that looks good on paper but fails to tackle the root of the problem. A big thank you to STEPS, Sustainable Plastics and Transition Pathways, funded by Mistra, Stiftelsen för miljöstrategisk forskning, and to the Carlsberg Foundation through the Green Transition Policy Centre for their generous financial support – without which this research would not have been possible. Curious? Here’s the link: https://lnkd.in/dF2jaqzd

New paper! We show how policy mix analysis helps illuminate the dynamics of political negotiations. Rather than only analysing existing policies, we use it in a prospective manner to understand variation in what countries consider desirable policies. Brilliantly led by a bunch of (very) early career researchers that Johannes Stripple and I tried our best to keep up with!

In a joint letter to the European Commission, European plastics value chain representatives urge policymakers to implement 6 strategic actions against the crisis ⬇️ Low-priced imports, soaring energy costs, legal uncertainty, administrative burdens and regulatory fragmentation are suffocating the industry. The window of action is closing rapidly. Without decisive action to protect this vital sector, Europe will witness irreversible damage to its industrial fabric, its environmental goals and ambitions, and its long-term global competitiveness. Read more in our press release: https://lnkd.in/ewbidQFp #PlasticsRecyclers #RecycledPlastics #PlasticsRecycling #Circularity #Sustainability #Plastic2Plastic #EUGreenDeal #Advocacy

I've been in this industry long enough to witness it all — the highs and lows, market fluctuations, openings, closures, mergers, divorces… you name it, I’ve navigated it. Right now, we’re facing one of the toughest challenges in years, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned about the recycling industry, it’s how resilient, innovative, and capable we are. Do we need stronger policy support and closer collaboration across the value chain? Absolutely. Aligning EU policies with market realities and stimulating demand for recycled materials are critical steps if we want to achieve the Green Deal and circular economy targets. Recycling isn’t going anywhere — we’re here for the long run, driving the transition to a more sustainable future. Because this isn’t just about saving businesses — it’s about safeguarding the circular economy and driving sustainable change for generations to come. #CircularEconomy #Recycling #Sustainability #PlasticsRecycling #EU #GreenDeal #GreenProcurement #ClimateAction

This month, world leaders are meeting to agree the first-ever UN Global Plastics Treaty - a landmark opportunity to end plastic pollution. The Natural Polymers Group has produced a white paper exploring how the UN Global Plastics Treaty can enable credible, safe and scalable substitutes to avoid plastics in the first place. The Treaty is a historic opportunity not just to regulate plastic - but to catalyse the transition away from it. The Natural Polymers Group believes that the Treaty text should explicitly recognise and support the development and deployment of nature-based substitutes to plastic. Find out more and read the white paper here: https://lnkd.in/dh2t_sHX

In my latest article for Foreign Policy, I examine the role the United States played in the recent round of plastics treaty negotiations held in Geneva last month. Instead of backing an ambitious instrument (as many had hoped!) the U.S. shifted to actively pursuing a low-ambition stance. The U.S. broke with traditional allies such as the EU, UK, Japan, Australia and South Korea (who are pushing for higher ambition and global rules for the full lifecycle of plastics) and instead aligned with major producers like Russia, China, and Saudi Arabia. This reversal reflects domestic policies that continue to support oil and gas interests, limiting the country’s ability to commit to stronger international environmental action. This posture goes beyond plastics. By aligning with industrial interests, it has not only shaped the trajectory of the plastics negotiations but also set a precedent that may influence other multilateral environmental agreements and processes. Continued U.S. support for fossil fuels and petrochemicals undermines international cooperation on climate, even extending to threats of tariffs against global efforts to cut emissions (as we see in the context of the IMO's efforts to cut emissions from international shipping). In the meantime, in the absence of an international agreement on plastics, countries committed to addressing the plastic pollution crisis will need to leverage technical and policy instruments: phased finance mechanisms, national regulatory steps, and pilot projects that allow testing new solutions. Read the full piece here: https://lnkd.in/dmDXer_E #plasticstreaty #INC5 Chatham House Environment and Society

184 Countries. 12 Days. 0 Agreement. The UN’s plastics treaty talks just collapsed in Geneva. Billions of lives are touched by plastic every day, and yet, world leaders still cannot agree on a way forward. Why? 3 fault lines sank the deal: 1. Economics over environment. Energy ministries reframed plastics as “economic,” not “environmental.” 2. No global measures. The US (backed by oil states) rejected binding rules — even on toxic plastics. 3. Consensus paralysis. Without voting safeguards, a few countries could block the votes of everyone. Result: no treaty. No progress. No plan. For founders, there’s a parallel lesson: when consensus collapses, conviction wins. If you’re waiting for global policy to clear the way, you’ll stall. If you build conviction, tell a clear story, and show the path forward, you’ll lead and attract the capital to do it. How do you make your conviction visible to investors?

Towards a Global Plastics Treaty: Business as a Force for Change   As the latest round of UN plastics treaty negotiations concluded in Geneva without reaching a deal, the world is at a crossroads. While disappointing, many experts argue that “no treaty is better than a weak one”,emphasizing the urgency of real action over symbolic compromise. At the Global Chamber of Business Leaders (GCBL), through our participation in the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, we stand at the forefront of driving impactful change. With over 300 businesses advocating for globally harmonised regulations across the plastics lifecycle—ranging from design and production to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)—we know that strong, binding standards are both economically viable and environmentally necessary. The stalled agreement in Geneva highlights a clear message: Voluntary initiatives alone aren’t enough. We must instead push for global consistency, creating clarity, reducing complexity, and empowering businesses to invest in sustainable solutions with confidence. Together, GCBL and the Business Coalition envision a future where sustainable business practices help forge a just, circular economy, aligned with the Global Coalition for Cooperation and Peace (GCCP). Join us, because responsible growth, grounded in shared values and collaboration, isn’t just possible, it’s essential. Dejan Štancer Nicole S.J. Farrell Global Trends Magazine, GTM Jean-Christian Rindoni #GlobalPlasticsTreaty #BusinessForPeace #Sustainability #GCBL #GCCP

Plastics SA calls for balanced global plastics treaty - PLASTICS SA, the umbrella body for South Africa’s plastics industry, has expressed concern over the failure of governments to reach agreement at the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) session in Geneva, Switzerland. - https://lnkd.in/dMAvSdwj #PlasticsTreaty #CircularEconomy #SustainablePlastics #RecyclingInnovation #PlasticsSA

"After nearly three years of negotiations, the sixth round of talks on a global plastics treaty concluded on August 15 in Switzerland. While a final treaty was not reached at this time, the discussions that took place — and the renewed calls for action following the latest round of negotiations — continue to signal a strong commitment to addressing plastic pollution." Read more in the latest blog from the Paper & Paperboard Packaging Environmental Council (PPEC): https://lnkd.in/g8zJSVBK