November/December 2024 issue: free to read for Sustainable Plastics' subscribers
As befits the last issue of the year, appearing as the year 2024 drains away, this is a reflection on what the past year has brought. And, while relatively short on good news, there is nonetheless the fact that, if there’s one theme that has dominated in the plastics industry throughout 2024, it is that of sustainability. And whatever anyone may feel about it, sustainability is well and truly here to stay.
And that’s a good thing. Because sustainability is not an option - it’s an imperative. For too long, we’ve talked the talk about plastics being a resource too valuable to waste – yet we’ve still managed to continue to turn it into waste.
The two major international events that took place in the past three week were meant to underscore the urgency of taking action. But both the COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, on climate change, and the INC-5, in Busan, Republic of Korea, where the focus of the international community was on achieving a Global Plastics Treaty, failed to fully achieve their goals.
The two conferences were, and still are, vitally important. They’re also linked to one another. Both global, both were attempting to find solutions on a global level for problems that have largely been created by the wealthier part of the world but that are inflicting devastation indiscriminately around the globe. At both conferences, the stakes were high.
The Global Plastic Treaty is an international agreement involving around 175 countries, aiming to end plastic pollution at every stage of the material’s lifecycle, from manufacturing to disposal.
How is this linked to climate change? It has been calculated that if plastics were a country, it would be the fifth-highest greenhouse gas emitter in the world. Most plastic-related emissions occur during the production process, so if production continues to rise, the emissions will also increase. In the run-up to INC-5 an increasing number of countries signed the Bridge to Busan declaration, calling amongst other things, for the Treaty to include a commitment to achieving sustainable levels of production of primary plastic polymers.
As the declaration states: ‘Studies show that the world cannot achieve its goals of ending plastic pollution and limiting global average temperature rise to less than 1.5° C if the unsustainable production of primary plastic polymers is not addressed’.
For now, neither conference was able to deliver what the world needs. But already, preparations for the COP30 in Belém, Brazil, include suggestions for a Climate Change Council at the United Nations to integrate the current highly fragmented efforts.
The strong Global Plastics Treaty envisioned has not yet come to pass - but further negotiations are planned for 2025.
And throughout this coming year, we’ll be following what happens closely.
Because whatever the outcome, the plastics industry must prepare – because there will be an impact, that much is certain. From caps on plastics production to the introduction of EPR schemes and stringent disclosure requirements, the industry needs to seriously think about how to manage the social and economic consequences of the new requirements. While studies have shown that adopting a circular, plastic waste-free model has the potential to yield long-term financial benefits, getting there is a huge challenge. But, really, is there a choice?
November/December 2024 issue: free to read for Sustainable Plastics' subscribers