United States gets behind global plastic pollution treaty in Trump presidency U-turn

22 Nov 2021 --- The US government is supporting calls for a global treaty to curb plastic pollution. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the announcement at a recent UN climate summit in Kenya, marking a U-turn on the Trump administration’s stance.

Blinken says the treaty, which will be discussed at an international meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, next year, must “call on countries to develop and enforce strong national action plans to address this [plastic pollution] problem at its source.” 

“By launching these negotiations at the UN Environmental Assembly in February 2022, our goal is to create a tool we can use to protect our oceans and all of the life they sustain from the growing global harms of plastic pollution,” says Blinken. 

Greenpeace USA Oceans Campaign Director John Hocevar tells PackagingInsights that while support for a treaty is proliferating, it is too early to say where this will land.

“One thing is clear: If the treaty does not significantly reduce plastic production, it will not solve the problem. Greenpeace and other NGOs will be working hard to make sure we do not waste this historic opportunity,” he asserts. 

The US has not ratified the Basel Convention, a UN treaty restricting the movement of hazardous waste to less-developed nations, and produces more plastic pollution than any other country on earth, according to a Science Advances study last year. 

Waste management redesign 
Hocevar stresses the US should use the global treaty to focus on upstream solutions that will reduce plastic production and use and support efforts to scale up the shift to reuse, refill and package-free approaches. 

“As one of the world’s biggest plastic polluters, the US must help champion an ambitious, binding treaty addressing plastic’s full life cycle. Focusing on marine debris alone will not protect our oceans and will not address the impacts of plastic on climate change or human health,” he highlights. 

This year, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation released a white paper detailing its demands for a legally binding global treaty on plastic waste, saying that voluntary commitments are insufficient to tackle pollution. 

The paper is a call to action on three central strategies for tackling plastic waste: 

• Eliminate all problematic and unnecessary plastic items worldwide. 
• Innovate to ensure the plastics we do need are reusable, recyclable or compostable.
• Circulate all plastic items we use to keep them in the economy and out of the environment. 

More recently, the UK-registered charity identified “alarmingly” low reusable packaging growth in its 2021 Global Progress Report. However, the organization noted virgin plastic use appears to have “peaked” among its members.

Cautious optimism 
Hocevar says Blinken’s statements “lend some hope” to the prospect of globally binding legislation on plastic pollution.

“Before this announcement, the US had not been a constructive force in these negotiations. We hope Blinken’s comments today mark the beginning of a new era but will be watching closely to see how this plays out,” he says. Greenpeace is stressing industry should eradicate needless packaging material.

“The US has yet to ratify the Basel Convention and continues to export millions of tons of plastic waste to the Global South. American and European corporations produce and ship enormous quantities of throwaway packaging to countries where it is clearly going to end up in the environment.”

Hocevar adds that single-use sachets are now among the most common types of debris found in many countries in the Global South.

Social justice ramifications 
Greenpeace also urges the US government to consider the implications of plastic packaging pollution on social justice issues like class and racial divisions as it looks to devise a global treaty. 

Hocevar describes how these issues are currently impacting US society. 

“Toxic emissions from plastic production are most severe for fenceline communities, which are often communities of color. In the Louisiana-Texas corridor, which has come to be known as Cancer Alley, you can see houses and neighborhoods right next to refineries.”

“The health impacts, including asthma, cancer, reproductive health problems, and many other diseases, can be severe. Plastic disposal is also an environmental justice issue, as landfills, incinerators, and transfer stations are typically located in low-income communities and communities of color,” he explains. Leaders will discuss a global treaty at a conference next year.

Industry backing 
Major plastic industry players say they back the idea of a global plastics treaty. Amcor last year joined the call for a treaty last year, following a report by Boston Consulting Group, World Wildlife Foundation and Ellen MacArthur Foundation recommending a harmonized set of definitions and standards and common policy framework.

“The Business Case for a UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution” report urges the UN Member States to negotiate a global treaty on plastic pollution, emphasizing how it seriously impacts businesses around the world.

David Clark, Amcor’s vice president for sustainability, tells PackagingInsights the US announcement is “encouraging” since waste management infrastructure is essential if packaging design like Amcor’s is to work. 

“As a producer of plastic packaging, Amcor is developing all our products to be recyclable, reusable or compostable. These packages will only be recovered if the right infrastructure is in place and consumers help to prevent litter.”

“Setting a clear direction and a common approach for governments, businesses and society can address plastic pollution while enabling innovation and a level playing field. Robust governance and data on progress, with common definitions and standards, will help everyone move as quickly as possible to reduce the impacts of plastic waste.” 

By Louis Gore-Langton