The United Nations’ fifth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) meeting on a global plastics treaty ended without an agreement in Busan, highlighting deep rifts between countries over binding measures against plastic pollution. The lack of consensus creates an urgent need for national action, particularly in the United States, where industry leaders are calling on Congress to address the nation’s recycling challenges to meet the growing demand for sustainable materials.
Global plastics treaty negotiations reach an impasse
Despite more than 1,000 days of discussions and five negotiation sessions, INC-5 concluded that governments cannot agree on key measures to address plastic pollution throughout its lifecycle. A coalition of more than 140 countries led by Rwanda and Mexico has called for a legally binding global ban on harmful plastics and chemicals, but progress has been hampered by opposition from a small number of countries.
Erin Simon, WWF Vice-President and Head of Plastic Pollution and Business, called the result a missed opportunity.
“The majority of Member States have finally succeeded in drowning out a vocal minority.… Now is not the time to set back ambitions and ensure that the missing elements are reflected in the final draft. It’s time to move forward.”
Negotiations resulted in a draft document with promising elements, such as establishing product design standards and banning harmful plastics, but many of these measures remain bracketed and their implementation remains unclear. be.
Eirik Lindebjerg, WWF’s Global Plastics Policy Lead, highlighted the risks:
“If countries cannot agree to ban the most harmful plastic products and chemicals, we will be moving away from ensuring a safe and livable planet for current and future generations.”
WWF also stressed the urgent need to establish a robust financial mechanism to support developing countries and economies in transition, which remains a major sticking point in treaty discussions.
Domestic recycling reform: A call to action
The stalled negotiations have focused attention on national efforts to tackle plastic waste. According to NPR, recycling rates in the United States are at historic lows, with only 5% of plastic recycled in 2021. Industry leaders, including Saloni Doshi, CEO of EcoEnclose, are calling on Congress to pass the Recycling and Composting Responsibility Act and the Recycling Infrastructure Accessibility Act.
The bills, which have stalled multiple times in the House, aim to modernize recycling systems, improve local access and encourage data collection to guide future efforts.
Mr. Doshi emphasized the importance of acting quickly under the current administration as follows:
“If the House doesn’t pass the bill under the Biden administration, it won’t pass the bill under the Trump administration. Environmental issues are at the bottom of his agenda, and under his leadership the bill could come to a grinding halt.” It’s sexual.”
Doshi also pointed to the growing demand for recycled materials, especially in industries where sustainable packaging is a priority, such as cosmetics and personal care. A 2022 report from McKinsey predicts that demand for recycled PET will outstrip supply by three times by 2030, posing major challenges for brands looking to meet their recycled content goals.
“More brands are adopting recycled packaging,” Doshi points out. “If we want to achieve true packaging circularity, we need to increase recycling rates and increase the amount of recycled content available to businesses.”
Impact on the cosmetics and personal care industry
The cosmetics and personal care sector relies heavily on plastic packaging and is facing increasing regulatory and consumer pressure to adopt sustainable practices. Stalled global treaty negotiations and domestic recycling bottlenecks highlight the challenges in achieving sustainability goals.
Proposed recycling laws in the United States could help address these issues by improving infrastructure and expanding the availability of post-consumer recycled materials. However, with overall plastics recycling rates stagnant, the industry must overcome these constraints while adapting to evolving global and national policies.
Looking to the future: Global and national efforts need to be aligned
As the world prepares for the next round of INC negotiations in 2025, the INC-5 outcome and U.S. recycling reform push highlight the interconnectedness of global and national efforts to combat plastic pollution. There is.
These trends demonstrate the urgent need for cosmetics and personal care manufacturers to prioritize sustainability in their packaging and supply chains. Actively adapting to policy changes and investing in recycled materials are key to staying competitive and achieving long-term environmental commitments.
