WPC Calls for Global Plastics Treaty to Focus on Circular Economy
2025-8-5
On July 29, the World Plastics Council (WPC) recently called on governments around the world to focus on the circular economy model in the process of formulating a global plastics treaty.
Benny Mermans, President of the WPC, urged negotiators to "steer clear of contentious issues that could jeopardize this historic opportunity." The main reason for the breakdown of the previous Busan negotiations was that governments failed to reach an agreement on key issues such as the cap on total plastic production. Mermans stated, "Over the past two years, we have been committed to building consensus among all stakeholders and seeking effective solutions to end plastic pollution. To make the treaty operational, fair, and forward-looking, it is recommended to focus on shared goals – establishing waste management systems and pursuing a common circular economy model."
In its statement, the WPC pointed out that the circular economy is the fastest and most cost-effective path to accelerate the building of a sustainable plastics system and eliminate plastic pollution, while preserving the practical value of plastics to society. It also emphasized that integrating the concept of circular economy throughout the entire life cycle of plastics and establishing corresponding systems for approximately 2.7 billion people who lack waste management systems should be the core pillars of the agreement.
"Enhancing the economic value of waste plastics as circular raw materials is key to accelerating the transformation," Mermans explained. "The higher the value of waste plastics, the more it will incentivize people to avoid littering, landfilling, or incinerating them, and instead to adopt reuse and recycling methods. This will significantly boost investment in waste management infrastructure and innovative technologies, drive economic growth, and create job opportunities."
The WPC holds that achieving a circular economy for plastics requires multiple policy drivers, including establishing sustainable financing mechanisms, stimulating demand through mandatory recycled material content targets, adopting application-oriented strategies for high-leakage plastics, opening up international trade in recycled raw materials, and optimizing product design. The organization also emphasizes that the agreement should respect the differentiated challenges faced by different countries and regions.
Following the failure to reach a consensus in the December 2024 negotiations in Busan, South Korea, the second phase of the fifth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) meeting on ending plastic pollution will resume in Geneva on August 4.
Benny Mermans, President of the WPC, urged negotiators to "steer clear of contentious issues that could jeopardize this historic opportunity." The main reason for the breakdown of the previous Busan negotiations was that governments failed to reach an agreement on key issues such as the cap on total plastic production. Mermans stated, "Over the past two years, we have been committed to building consensus among all stakeholders and seeking effective solutions to end plastic pollution. To make the treaty operational, fair, and forward-looking, it is recommended to focus on shared goals – establishing waste management systems and pursuing a common circular economy model."
In its statement, the WPC pointed out that the circular economy is the fastest and most cost-effective path to accelerate the building of a sustainable plastics system and eliminate plastic pollution, while preserving the practical value of plastics to society. It also emphasized that integrating the concept of circular economy throughout the entire life cycle of plastics and establishing corresponding systems for approximately 2.7 billion people who lack waste management systems should be the core pillars of the agreement.
"Enhancing the economic value of waste plastics as circular raw materials is key to accelerating the transformation," Mermans explained. "The higher the value of waste plastics, the more it will incentivize people to avoid littering, landfilling, or incinerating them, and instead to adopt reuse and recycling methods. This will significantly boost investment in waste management infrastructure and innovative technologies, drive economic growth, and create job opportunities."
The WPC holds that achieving a circular economy for plastics requires multiple policy drivers, including establishing sustainable financing mechanisms, stimulating demand through mandatory recycled material content targets, adopting application-oriented strategies for high-leakage plastics, opening up international trade in recycled raw materials, and optimizing product design. The organization also emphasizes that the agreement should respect the differentiated challenges faced by different countries and regions.
Following the failure to reach a consensus in the December 2024 negotiations in Busan, South Korea, the second phase of the fifth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) meeting on ending plastic pollution will resume in Geneva on August 4.