Plastics treaty

United Nations officials say they are considering Geneva, Switzerland, for the next round of plastics treaty talks.

A senior European Union official outlined its strategy for the plastics treaty in a Jan. 22 parliamentary briefing.

A new coalition of cities and local governments from around the world wants the plastics treaty to include strong rules for extended producer responsibility and to address human health impacts of plastic pollution.

A coalition of non-profit groups running curbside recycling programs in U.S. cities is telling plastics treaty negotiators that some plastics packaging, like flexibles, are problematic for recycling.

Disputes over production cuts and chemical toxicity were the public face of the last round of plastics treaty talks in Busan, South Korea. But some observers point to signs of agreement in other areas.

It shouldn't be a surprise that representatives of plastics companies and chemical suppliers have been active in discussions about the global plastics treaty. But just how many people were there from the plastics industry? That's up for debate.

Faced with the possibility that the talks would collapse, negotiators decided to try to salvage them and schedule another, potentially last round, in 2025.

As global plastics treaty talks enter their final hours, the European Union joins other countries in vow to push for a meaningful agreement addressing plastics production limits, chemicals of concern and problematic products.