It will not be possible for the solutions proposed in the ‘Plastics Treaty’ to only target the end of the value chain, warned an EU official on Friday 1 August, a few days before the second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2), from 5 to 14 August in Geneva.
Determined to reach a legally binding treaty covering the entire plastics value chain (production, waste management, etc.), the EU knows that it cannot continue to stick to its initial position. In Geneva, the EU intends to focus on dialogue with producer countries, including those in the Gulf, to ensure that they are included in the Treaty, following the failure of negotiations in Busan, South Korea, at the end of 2024 (see EUROPE 13536/14).
In view of the fact that some countries may not be ready to accept everything immediately, the EU would like to see mechanisms put in place for the future, explained the European official. Plastic production, consumption and product sustainability will have to be addressed “in time”. The aim is to lay down “a foundation for the future”, particularly with regard to single-use plastics and design criteria (durability, reusability, recyclability, etc.), “which could be established at a later date”.
Although it is “unlikely” that Article 6 of the Treaty will contain a cap or target on plastic production, the EU would at least like to see it as “recognition of the unsustainability of certain production and consumption patterns”. To achieve this, the Treaty will have to be designed with “the right structures and mechanisms” and will have to ensure that decisions are taken “based on scientific data”.
The EU wants to reach an agreement, but would not be satisfied with a part of the value chain linked to the design phase of plastic products that is “not strong enough”. In particular, the EU intends to use this international Treaty to target measures that already exist in European legislation, such as the ban on plastic straws, the ban on single-use lightweight plastic bags and the obligation to secure plastic bottle tops. In addition, the EU sees the establishment of deposit systems for plastic bottles as “an excellent measure to prevent littering”, explained the European official. It will also involve regulating chemical substances of concern in certain products, by setting limit values and based on the existence of alternatives.
Should the Treaty include a list of products to be banned or the design of which is to be regulated? At the very least, the EU intends to “incorporate the possibility of drawing up lists of products”.
Incorporating monitoring, reporting and compliance systems into the Treaty will also be essential for the EU, as will the creation of a financial mechanism, through the Global Environment Facility (GEF), to support implementation of the Treaty for those countries that need it most.
The EU has not overlooked the end of the plastics life cycle and expects the Treaty to give a boost to the “polluter pays” principle globally in order to improve waste management. (Original version in French by Florent Servia)