We are a group of businesses across the plastics value chain, financial institutions, and key non-governmental organisations (NGOs) supporting the development of an ambitious and effective global treaty to end plastic pollution.
This document lays out our shared vision, the key outcomes required to achieve this vision, key elements we believe a global treaty to end plastic pollution must include, and the Coalition's objectives. The development of this vision statement has been supported by Systemiq. It concludes with a call for more organisations to join us.
Our vision is a circular economy in which plastic never becomes waste or pollution, and the value of products and materials is retained in the economy.
A comprehensive circular economy approach can address the root causes of plastic pollution, and contribute to the global efforts to combat the climate and biodiversity crisis, while delivering economic, environmental, and social benefits.
Currently, most plastics are not designed for a circular economy nor are they circulated in practice. Yet, the best available scientific analysis shows us that known circular economy solutions, if applied at scale, can reduce annual volumes of plastic pollution by at least 80% by 2040 compared to business-as-usual and achieve near-zero plastic pollution by 2060 globally. To end plastic pollution for good and increase the pace of change, we need a system-wide transformation that prevents plastic waste from being created in the first place, using a circular economy approach that tackles all steps of the value chain with a high level of ambition.
We welcome the UNEA Resolution, 'End Plastic Pollution: Towards an international legally binding instrument', and the establishment of an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC). We see a legally binding treaty as the single most important opportunity to accelerate progress towards a circular economy for plastic, building on the lessons learned from existing initiatives. By working together we aim to bring a clear and amplified voice of forward-thinking businesses, financial institutions, and key NGOs to the treaty negotiations, supporting the development of an ambitious and effective treaty.
We believe this treaty has the potential to stimulate, coordinate, and align national policies and actions towards a common global strategic direction. We call for governments to develop an ambitious and effective treaty that provides the right international policy framework and creates the enabling conditions for the much needed investments in infrastructure, innovation, and skills worldwide. The treaty must set out comprehensive and coordinated measures to accelerate the transition to a circular economy for plastic globally and include supporting mechanisms for its effective implementation, allowing for the adaptation of solutions to local conditions. It must also adopt a broad scope, covering both macro- and microplastics and addressing all sources and pathways of plastic pollution into the natural environment.
The successful negotiation of an ambitious and effective treaty to end plastic pollution will bring a clear sense of urgency that the world needs to act on the plastic pollution challenge. We are committed to working with governments to raise the bar of ambition in the treaty negotiations and accelerate progress towards a circular economy for plastic globally.
To achieve our vision of a circular economy for plastic, we believe that progress must be achieved in three critical areas:
1. REDUCTION of plastic production and use through a circular economy approach, focusing on those plastics that have high-leakage rates, are short-lived, and/or are made using fossil-based virgin resources. For example, by aiming to:
2. CIRCULATION of all plastic items that cannot be eliminated, keeping them in the economy at their highest value. For example, by aiming to:
3. PREVENTION and REMEDIATION of remaining, hard-to-abate micro- and macro-plastic leakage into the environment, including robust waste management practices and tackling legacy pollution. For example, by aiming to:
To support our vision and desired outcomes in the treaty negotiations, the intention is to form a Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty with organisations aligned to our vision that will pursue four main objectives:
1. Develop clear and consistent policy insights and recommendations for an ambitious and effective treaty, and inform the negotiations on key elements and priority policy considerations to be taken into account.
We define success for our work as raising the bar of ambition in the treaty negotiations. Therefore, we intend to develop policy recommendations for each INC meeting. We aim to bring a level of ambition into our policy insights and recommendations that is aligned with our vision and desired outcomes, building on the latest available science and evidence from existing initiatives.
2. Convene an inclusive group of businesses, financial institutions, key NGOs and business organisations with a shared ambition towards a circular economy for plastic and a strong commitment to support an effective, legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution.
We define success as having a diverse representation with members and supporting organisations coming from different geographies, sizes and sectors from across the plastics value chain, including financial institutions.
3. Coordinate advocacy efforts to deliver joint key messages and inputs from aligned businesses, NGOs, and financial institutions to governments.
We define success as our policy recommendations being incorporated into the treaty as a result of the advocacy and communications efforts of the planned Coalition and its individual members. We will actively engage with governments, collaborate with other stakeholders and organisations, and develop insights to strengthen our call.
4. Build confidence in the business community around an ambitious and effective treaty being an enabler of progress towards a system change to end plastic pollution.
We define success as our future member organisations understanding the developments of the treaty, recognising its benefits and being well-prepared for its outcomes, as well as collaborating with business associations to promote our vision to the broader business community.
To support our vision and associated outcomes, a legally binding treaty must set the right enabling conditions to successfully scale a circular economy for plastic and end plastic pollution. For businesses and investors, this means creating a level playing field and preventing a patchwork of disconnected solutions. To achieve this, we believe the treaty should include the following key elements:
1. The treaty must set clear goals, targets, and obligations, with a sense of urgency, that all Parties to the treaty will be required to implement in their national jurisdictions to align the actions of governments, businesses and civil society. These provisions must be based on common definitions as well as harmonised standards and metrics, and include a review mechanism to gradually strengthen them over time.
2. The treaty must define a comprehensive and coordinated set of upstream and downstream policy measures that help achieve our desired global outcomes and are adaptable to local conditions, including:
3. The treaty must include instruments to support implementation and monitoring of progress at national, regional and global levels, including by:
We call on businesses, business associations and financial institutions, as well as key non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that are aligned with our vision as outlined in this document to engage with us on the development of the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, convened by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and WWF.
Together, we will provide a clear voice in the negotiations to amplify our call for an ambitious and effective treaty to end plastic pollution. The Coalition will remain active until the multilateral negotiations on the treaty conclude, which is expected by the end of 2024. After the treaty text has been adopted and is open for ratification, the Coalition will assess further opportunities for impact.
Financial Institutions
converters and producers
Brand owners and retailers
waste management
Other
ngos and business organisations