The negotiations on a new global agreement against plastic pollution in Geneva ended, as expected, without a major breakthrough. The proposal to introduce a ceiling for the production of plastics was supported by only 100 out of 185 states. Countries extracting oil and natural gas – key producers of primary plastics – were particularly opposed. The Czech Republic was represented by David Surý, the senior director of the Ministry of the Environment.

Why the states did not agree
The meeting hall was divided into two camps.

The first group – states, industry and lobbyists promoting the most liberal conditions for the production of plastics.
The second group – countries, scientists and communities calling for ambitious steps that would limit the amount of plastics and chemicals in circulation at the source.

Other controversial points also increased tensions:

Introducing restrictions on the production of selected plastics at the beginning of the life cycle.
Binding targets for recycling and reuse.
Regulation of chemical additives in plastics, the impacts of which on health and the environment are increasingly well documented.
Financial support for developing countries, which today bear the greatest environmental burden, without being the main producers of plastic waste.

Risk without intervention
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), without drastic measures, plastic waste is expected to increase almost threefold by 2060. This would mean even greater pressure on the oceans, soil and food chain – from microplastics in drinking water to toxic substances in the air.

For the packaging industry, this means…
The lack of agreement in Geneva does not mean that the issue is being postponed indefinitely. Negotiations are continuing and it is expected that the pressure to regulate plastics will grow – even at the level of individual countries and regions. For packaging companies, this may mean:

Stricter requirements for material composition.
Higher proportion of recycled content and emphasis on the reuse of packaging.
Transparency regarding chemicals and additives.

Our recommendation
Companies should monitor not only legislative developments in the EU (e.g. PPWR) but also international negotiations – they can be harbingers of trends that will sooner or later be reflected in national and European regulations. Active preparation for stricter regulations can be a competitive advantage, not a threat.