Norway and Ghana as members of the Coalition invite to a Webinar on Plastics Treaty options for elements titled Increasing Circularity of Plastics in the Economy with participation from Scientists, Civil society, Business and others.

The event will take place Wednesday 22 March at 10:00 – 11:30 am (CET)  

Register HERE

Programme

Introduction to the High Ambition Coalition and webinar theme by HAC representative

Panel discussion:

• Oliver Boachie, Special Advisor to Minister, Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ghana
• Stine Risdal Eriksen, Senior Adviser, Ministry of Climate and Environment, Norway
• Amila Abeynayaka, Policy Researcher, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, Japan
• Jodie Roussell, Global Public Affairs Lead, Packaging & Sustainability, Nestlé
• Fiona Durie, Advocacy Consultant, CEFLEX
• Griffins Ochieng, Programmes Coordinator, Centre for Environment Justice and Development CEJAD

Q&A with audience

Moderator: Magnus Løvold, Norwegian Academy of International Law

Background

Plastic pollution constitutes a planetary crisis with impacts on ecosystems, biodiversity, the climate and human health. Plastic consumption and production have reached unsustainable levels. Plastic consumption has quadrupled over the past 30 years. Global plastic production has doubled from 2000 to 2019 reaching 460 million tonnes. Only 9% of plastic waste is recycled.

The High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution is committed to develop an ambitious international legally binding instrument and work towards an international treaty that will develop global sustainability criteria and standards for plastics; set global baselines and targets for sustainability throughout the life-cycle of plastics and ensure transparency in the value chain of plastics, including for material and chemical composition throughout the life-cycle of plastics.

There is a need to bring forward more sustainable products, change consumption patterns for all users and consumers, and establish effective systems for retaining plastics in the economy . This will in turn reduce demand for primary polymers as well as the risk of plastic pollution. The treaty must ensure criteria for the design of plastics to extend product lifespan, ensure durability, recyclability, and safety, in order to enable a circular economy for plastics that protects the environment and human health. These provisions are meant to support the substitution of plastics for other environmentally sound materials in products, avoidance of unnecessary plastics, as well as the development of markets for reuse, product delivery models that reduce plastics use, and secondary plastic materials. These provisions must also ensure transparency and availability of information on such sustainability aspects through the value chain of plastics and promote financial flows to support circularity.

This event provides opportunities for Member States and stakeholders to discuss possible options for core obligations and control measures in the plastics treaty to increase the circularity of plastics in the economy. These could be obligations, criteria, guidance, targets and transparency requirements for product design and manufacturing, reuse and recycling.

Highlights

Recording of the event