Global plastics industry faces major shifts as UN plastics treaty nears conclusion

The United Nations plastics treaty talks are ending in just a few months, and I get the feeling that a lot of industry people still don't really understand why that's important.

Maybe it's wishful thinking: a belief that the delegates will suddenly realize that there's no need to solve plastics pollution issues and the status quo is working just fine. I'm here to tell you, that's not going to happen.

There will be an agreement, and it will certainly have a big long-term impact on the global plastics industry, especially on resin production, single-use plastics makers and recyclers.

How much of an impact and how soon? Those are big questions. Taxes or caps on virgin production are possible.

In a recent Plastics in Politics livestream, a viewer asked about Plastics News' position on this topic. Our editorial position is in opposition to bans and taxes that encourage replacing plastic products with less sustainable alternative materials.

We also support extended producer responsibility when it has a positive role in making plastics a more sustainable part of the circular economy. That includes, for example, state and national bottle bills, since deposit programs have proved effective in collecting a clean, valuable recycling stream.

EPR will likely be part of a U.N. agreement, but it's expected to go far beyond just dealing with policies that make plastics more circular. Steve Toloken has quoted delegates saying that an ambitious treaty could kick off a 20-year-plus global debate on plastic pollution and chemical health.

In our Plastics Caps + Closures conference, Patrick Krieger, vice president of sustainability at the Plastics Industry Association, made that case, saying plastics companies should expect the talks to mark the beginning of years of focus on plastics at a global level. "This is the start. This is not anywhere near done," Krieger said.

Plastics trade groups had a very strong negative reaction to the White House's August announcement that it now supports limits on virgin plastics production as part of the plastics treaty. But Krieger does not expect explicit plastic production caps in the final treaty, given strong opposition from some countries.

But in his Caps presentation, Krieger identified other areas where he sees the treaty could put requirements on how the plastics industry operates, including material and additive restrictions, minimum recycled-content requirements, and EPR or other fees to finance recycling.

I think PN readers need a lot more information, so we're hosting a PN Live editorial livestream on Oct. 8 on how the U.N. treaty could change the global plastics industry.

Toloken, who has covered the treaty talks in person, is moderating. Our guests are Kate Bailey, chief policy officer for the Association of Plastic Recyclers; Stewart Harris, managing director of global affairs for the American Chemistry Council; and Krieger from the Plastics Industry Association. You can learn more and register at PlasticsNews.com/PN/Live.

Don Loepp is the editor of Plastics News and author of the Plastics Blog.