Call for Ambitious Global Plastics Treaty as UN Negotiations Resume in Geneva

With plastic pollution continuing to threaten ecosystems and communities worldwide, attention turns once again to Geneva as negotiations for the UN Plastics Treaty resume at INC-5.2 this August.

Following encouraging signs of progress in earlier talks in Busan, where countries began aligning on key treaty elements, momentum has grown. In June, nearly 100 nations endorsed the “Nice Wake Up Call for an Ambitious Treaty on Plastic Pollution,” supporting a global agreement that tackles the full lifecycle of plastics—from production to disposal.

Key components of the proposed treaty include restrictions on harmful plastic products and chemicals, stronger product design standards to support a circular economy, and robust enforcement mechanisms. Over 300 businesses and institutions have joined the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, signaling strong private sector backing.

Supporters say this treaty represents the best chance to scale existing solutions and shift away from the current wasteful linear model. As negotiations continue, pressure mounts on governments to agree on binding global rules that could reshape how plastic is made, used, and managed.

Advocates are calling on world leaders to act decisively in Geneva, urging them to finalize a treaty that can meaningfully curb plastic pollution and deliver long-term environmental and economic benefits.