We must change how we design, use, and reuse plastics. We cannot simply recycle or reduce our way out of the plastic pollution crisis. If we don’t act now, by 2050 there could be more plastic than fish in the oceans.
Voluntary action has driven progress – a global treaty can take it further
The Global Commitment has united businesses, governments, NGOs, and investors behind a common vision of 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. for plastics. It has delivered measurable progress towards tackling plastic waste, as well as driving change far beyond the signatory group.
However, the world is still off track to stop plastic pollution. Even the largest voluntary commitments have topped out at around 20 percent of the market. The Global Commitment has identified key barriers, which a treaty can help overcome. Global rules are crucial to creating a level-playing field and driving change, including stimulating investment and innovation, and are the best chance we have to end plastic pollution.
Harmonised regulations can unlock billions of dollars in investment, simplify supply chains, and stimulate innovation. Governments can save hundreds of billions in streamlined waste management and avoid the increasing costs of environmental and health impacts of plastic pollution.
Over 240 businesses and financial institutions, including many of the world’s largest consumer goods companies, have joined the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty calling for an ambitious and actionable treaty to end plastic pollution.
This treaty is a chance to show that the world can meet a global crisis with a global solution.
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A circular economy for plastic
The circular economy considers every stage of a product’s journey – before and after it reaches the customer. This approach is not only vital to stop plastic pollution, it also offers strong economic, social, and climate benefits. By 2040 a circular economy has the potential to:
reduce the annual volume of plastics entering our oceans by 80%
reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25%
generate savings of USD 200 bn per year
create 700,000 net additional jobs
The circular economy considers every stage of a product’s journey – before and after it reaches the customer.
To create a circular economy for plastic we must take three actions:
Eliminate
Eliminate all problematic and unnecessary plastic items
Innovate
Innovate to ensure that the plastics we do need are reusable, recyclable, or compostable
Circulate
Circulate all the plastic items we use to keep them in the economy and out of the environment
