22 prominent CEOs whose companies are members of the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty have signed an open letter to heads of state ahead of the final round of negotiations in Busan, Republic of Korea, for a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is a co-convener of The Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, alongside WWF, in collaboration with aligned businesses and supported by strategic NGO partners. The Coalition, which brings together more than 250 businesses across the plastics value chain, financial institutions and NGOs, sees the treaty as the single most important opportunity to accelerate progress towards a circular economycircular economyA systems solution framework that tackles global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution. It is based on three principles, driven by design: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature. in which plastic never becomes waste or pollution, and the value of products and materials is retained in the economy.
The open letter, signed by 22 prominent CEOs (AJE; ALPLA; Amcor; Berry Global; Borealis; Danone; Decathlon; Essity; Gemini; Henkel; Inter IKEA Group; Mars Inc; Nestlé; PepsiCo; SAP; SC Johnson; Sig; Ternova; Terracycle; The ALDI SOUTH Group; Tomra, and Unilever), was published in Forbes yesterday, ahead of INC-5, the last planned round of negotiations.
It calls on delegates to seize the once-in-a-generation opportunity to address the plastic pollution crisis, while outlining the specific measures on which agreement is needed at INC-5 for business to implement an effective treaty:
Global criteria and lists that enable the restriction and phase out of chemicals of concern as well as problematic and avoidable plastic products.
Sector-specific approaches and global criteria for circular product design of plastic products, such as packaging.
Common definitions and key principles for the effective implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes.
A strong mandate for the governing body to strengthen the agreement over time.
The letter is available on the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty website and was signed by the CEOs of AJE; ALPLA; Amcor; Berry Global; Borealis; Danone; Decathlon; Essity; Gemini; Henkel; Inter IKEA Group; Mars Inc; Nestlé; PepsiCo; SC Johnson; Sig; Ternova; Terracycle; The ALDI SOUTH Group; Tomra, and Unilever.
