Packaging firms join call for global treaty to 'reduce virgin plastic production'

Ahead of the expected start of negotiations on a global plastics treaty, some large plastics packaging firms are joining a call from financial institutions and consumer product companies for a robust agreement that aims to cut virgin plastic production.

Packaging firms Berry Global Group Inc., Amcor Ltd., Alpla Inc. and Greiner AG signed on with a Jan. 17 statement from more than 70 businesses, including global brands like Coca-Cola Co. and Walmart Inc., urging negotiators at the upcoming United Nations Environment Assembly session to start serious talks.

The statement said the businesses want U.N. negotiators to pursue an "ambitious, international, legally binding" treaty that would set a "high common standard" for countries to pursue.

Specifically, the statement said an agreement should aim to "keep plastics in the economy and out of the environment, reduce virgin plastic production and use, and decouple plastic production from the consumption of fossil resources."

Talks had been expected to begin in February at the UNEA session in Kenya, where the U.N. Environment Programme is headquartered, but there are indications the assembly could be delayed because of ongoing coronavirus concerns.

Company signatories also include resin maker Borealis AG, along with packaging maker Mondi plc, nearly 30 financial institutions and global brands including Unilever plc, Group Danone SA, PepsiCo Inc. and Nestlé SA.

"We are at a critical point in time to establish an ambitious U.N. treaty that fosters collaboration for systemic solutions and speeds up the transition to a circular economy globally," the companies said. "UNEA 5.2 is the decisive, most auspicious moment to turn the tide on the global plastic pollution crisis."

It's not clear what shape any agreement could take, with two competing plans emerging over how to structure any deal, which could be similar to a Paris climate treaty for plastics.

Japan is pushing for the pact to focus more on ocean plastics and waste management, while a proposal from Rwanda and Peru, and backed by the European Union, wants a broader approach.

A group of global plastics business groups put out their own statement Jan. 17 calling for an "ambitious" treaty to end plastics leakage in the environment, while also saying that negotiators need to keep in mind contributions plastics make to fighting climate change.

"Without plastics, we cannot achieve the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals or the desired lower carbon future that mitigates and is resilient to climate change," according to the joint statement from the World Plastics Council and the International Council of Chemical Associations.

"To accelerate the shift to a circular economy for plastics, we must encourage innovation across product design, collection, waste management, and recycling, while ensuring flexibility for governments and avoiding prescriptive global policies," the statement said.

WPC membership includes 28 large plastics manufacturers, as well as having the American Chemistry Council, PlasticsEurope, the Gulf Petrochemical and Chemicals Association and the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation as partners.

The plastics industry group pointed to its own five-point plan for a global treaty.

"ICCA, WPC, and our partners throughout the global plastics supply chain strongly support the negotiation of a new agreement that can catalyze innovation and action from all governments and stakeholders to address this pressing global challenge," they said.

The call from the 70 businesses and financial institutions appeared to go beyond the Japanese proposal for the treaty, saying any pact should support global changes "at scale" for the use of plastics.

"This requires governments to align on regulatory measures that cover the whole life cycle of plastics, not limiting the scope of negotiations to address waste management challenges only," the global brands and financial institutions said.

The business call drew some skepticism in the environmental community.

"Coca-Cola and others are now calling for 'a global treaty,' which they'll surely work to make as toothless and lofty as possible," according to a Twitter comment from Greenpeace Africa spokesman Tal Harris.

Negotiations around a treaty could take several years to complete, but the upcoming UNEA meeting will set the specific direction and parameters for the talks.