A letter published in Science on April 19, 2024, encourages negotiators at the upcoming session of the United Nations Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for the Plastics Treaty (INC 4, April 23 – 29) to align circular economy and waste hierarchy goals within the treaty. Previous INC meetings have had difficulties coming to consensus on the exact goals that should be included in the officially-named UN Treaty to Prevent Plastic Pollution including in the Marine Environment (FPF reported), which means that many decisions need to be made at INC 4.
The waste hierarchy is a way of organizing waste management approaches “from most valuable (prevention, reduction, and reuse) to least (recycling, recovery, and disposal).” By organizing discussion in this way, negotiators can support changes that are effective in the long term. “These decisions should be made with the goal of shifting the market to one in which producing and disposing plastics reflects the real cost to society, and alternatives become more cost-effective and attractive to consumers.”
The letter was co-authored by 13 members of the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty including Jane Muncke, the managing director of the Food Packaging Forum.
Reference
Syberg, K. et al., (2024). “Link circular economy to waste hierarchy in treaty.” Science. DOI: 10.1126/science.adp4364
