29 Mar 2023 --- The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) calls for a common and inclusive definition of circularity, focusing on protecting natural resources and eliminating externalized costs of production. The organization says governments’ shielding the plastic industry from taking accountability for environmental and human health risks is a “function of greenwashing.” In its briefing, CIEL criticizes that the term “circular economy” has moved away from its original definition, undermining the validity of the concept in national and global policy discussions by predominantly focusing on waste management and disposal. “We hope that negotiators of the new plastics treaty are listening to the myriad civil society voices cited in this briefing, making a strong case for the protection of human rights through dramatic reductions in the amounts of plastics produced and the toxic chemicals used to make them,” Jane Patton, campaign manager, Plastics & Petrochemicals tells PackagingInsights.
