A perspective article explains why the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastic Treaty was formed and how it works; the Scientists’ Coalition employs a multi-faceted communication approach including a media strategy to reach all relevant stakeholders; member scientists must declare any conflicts of interests and publish peer-reviewed research related to plastic pollution
May 24, 2024
Mixed reactions as UN concludes fourth round of INC plastics treaty negotiations
Fourth round of negotiations for a new global instrument on plastic pollution took place in Ottawa, Canada from April 23 – 29, 2024; member states agree on intersessional work to be carried out on financial mechanisms and chemicals of concern ahead of upcoming final session; no agreement on reducing primary plastic production; concerns raised over industry lobbyists outnumbering scientists and many national delegations; final INC-5 meeting set to take place in Busan, Republic of Korea on November 25 – December 1, 2024
January 22, 2024
2024 food contact chemical and material policy outlook
Public and political concerns related to chemical exposures, human health, and environmental pollution continue to grow; brief overview of some of the EU, US, and UN policies and projects that FPF is tracking in 2024
June 7, 2023
Science and statecraft at the second Plastics Treaty negotiation
Diplomats from across the globe descended on Paris, France to continue developing the UN treaty on plastics pollution; Scientist’s Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty members spoke to delegates from every continent, representing 33% of the world’s population; UN secretariat will develop INC-2 synthesis report, create zero draft by INC-3; elements for intersessional work can be submitted until August 15, 2023; INC-3 in Nairobi, Kenya in November 2023
June 1, 2023
Policy brief: effectiveness of national action plans for global plastics treaty
Global Plastics Policy Centre publishes analysis to support INC-2; finds national action plans need to be reformed to maximize effectiveness
May 25, 2023
Stakeholders prepare for the second Plastics Treaty negotiation
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), industry organizations, scientific research groups, and civil society organizations publish flurry of reports and policy briefs in preparation for second meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC-2); meeting takes place in Paris, France May 29 – June 2, 2023
May 8, 2023
UNEP: Over 3000 chemicals of concern in plastics
Technical report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) informs about “chemical-related issues of plastic pollution and options to address them”; finds 13,000 chemicals present in plastic; 7,000 have hazard data of which 3,200 are chemicals of concern; outlines chemical groups, use sectors of concern, human and ecosystem exposure, gaps and improvement options including substitution and waste management in a circular economy
April 21, 2023
Measuring trade-offs between packaging waste and food waste
Australian Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Center surveys consumer perceptions of packaging’s role in encouraging or preventing food waste; United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) breaks down results from 33 life cycle analyses comparing packaging and food waste; makes structured recommendations for when packaging or food waste costs are higher based on food type, consumer and regulatory support, and strength of local waste management systems
November 28, 2022
What should be included in UN Plastics Treaty negotiations?
International negotiators prepare for first meeting to negotiate the UN treaty to end plastic pollution; scientists, civil society organizations, and governmental bodies publish reports proposing suggestions for what and how to negotiate; many reports support including controls on chemical additives as part of the treaty
March 4, 2022
UNEA: 175 nations agree to develop plastic pollution treaty
Fifth meeting of the United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA) in Nairobi unanimously agrees to the development of a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution; development process including consultations to begin by end of 2022, treaty expected by the end of 2024
