The fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4), held this week in Canada, will discuss the draft terms of the Global Plastics Treaty, which the United Nations committed to deliver by the end of 2024.

Greenpeace is calling for the treaty to set a legally-binding target to reduce plastic production by at least 75% by 2040, followed by significant reductions in production year-on-year and eventually phase out plastic production entirely.

Greenpeace Australia Pacific Senior Oceans Campaigner Violette Snow said the Australian government must champion strong targets and focus on reducing plastic production.

“The INC-4 is a crucial meeting that could determine the role toxic plastic will play in the future of our planet, the health of our children and the stability of our climate. The clock is ticking. The Global Plastics Treaty is a once-in-a-generation opportunity – it can’t go to waste,” she said.

“Australia must stem the tide of plastic, starting with a strong, legally binding target to reduce plastic at its source. Australia can be a global leader by championing ambitious targets at the UN, and not bowing to petrostates trying to water down the treaty terms.”

Greenpeace is calling for the Global Plastics Treaty to end plastic pollution – from production to disposal – and to end single-use plastics to protect the environment and human health. 

“Australians know that life in plastic isn’t fantastic. Plastic pollution floods our planet, destroys biodiversity, kills our wildlife and worsens the climate crisis across the entire life of plastic – from extraction, production, packaging, distribution, incineration and dumping. The deadly cycle brought by runaway plastic production and use needs to stop for good, and a strong treaty will see to that,” Snow said.

“As part of the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution, the Australian government must walk the talk and model high ambitions. We need more focus on rapidly phasing down plastic production, and less focus on band-aid solutions. While there is a place for recycling in a circular economy, we can’t rely on recycling our way out of the plastics crisis.”

—ENDS—

Notes: 

Photos can be found here

A media briefing of the INC-4 is attached here

Audio grabs from Violette Snow can be found here

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact Kimberley Bernard on +61 407 581 404 or kbernard@greenpeace.org

We are living in a world that is being destroyed by throwaway plastic. Plastic pollution has flooded our planet, harming people’s health, accelerating social injustice, destroying biodiversity and fueling the climate crisis.

Science is only beginning to understand the long-term effects of plastic on human health, yet microplastics have been found in the air we breathe and the food we eat, and even in our organs and our blood. And communities on the frontlines of plastic production and waste are disproportionately affected by plastic pollution, social injustice,  and the climate crisis.

The fact is that 99% of plastic is made from oil and gas —  and big oil are making more and more each year. The full lifecycle of plastic harms livelihoods and the climate. Despite all of this, big oil, in league with big brands like Unilever, Nestlé and Coca-Cola, continue to promote false solutions and a throwaway single-use model where ‘convenience’ and corporate profits outweigh the cost to our communities.

But now, we have the opportunity to end the plastic crisis by pushing for a strong and ambitious Global Plastics Treaty that will end runaway plastic production and use. 

Governments around the world are now negotiating a Global Plastics Treaty – an agreement that could solve the planetary crisis brought by runaway plastic production.

A treaty that fails to deliver major reductions in plastic production and use will not solve the plastic crisis. Greenpeace, with our allies and supporters, demand an ambitious, legally-binding global plastics treaty that will cap and phase down plastic production and use, and ultimately end single-use plastic.

We demand a treaty that will keep oil and gas used to produce plastic in the ground and puts an end to big polluters’ relentless plastic production. The Global Plastics Treaty must be firmly rooted in a human rights-based approach that reduces inequalities between people, priorities on human health, protects the environment and ensures a just transition to a low-carbon, zero-waste, reuse-based economy that centres justice and the interests of communities most affected. A strong plastics treaty delivers a cleaner, safer planet for us and for future generations.

We know that the petrochemical industry, corporations and some governments will try to weaken the ambition of the Global Plastics Treaty, and here is where the battle truly begins. The Global Plastics Treaty is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to solve the plastics crisis. For the sake of our collective future, we must not waste this moment.

At the upcoming negotiations in coming years, we will show how an unstoppable global movement can achieve an ambitious Global Plastics Treaty that will turn off the plastics tap and finally, end the age of plastic – for our health, our communities, climate, and the planet.

How did you get on with your Plastic Free July challenge? Each year I look forward to reducing my use of single-use plastic as much as possible. Wouldn’t it be nice if Coca-Cola and Pepsi did the same (wink wink)?

Individual actions matter. But the entire system needs changing.

There are actions we all can take to reduce our personal plastic footprint — bringing our reusable coffee cup to the cafe, taking tote bags to the supermarket, carrying a refillable water bottle and even buying products like sunscreen and shampoo in bulk.

But while these lifestyle changes are important, to create large-scale sustainable change we must reduce and eliminate single-use plastic production at its source. Even the most conscientious shopper among us will struggle to be 100 percent plastic free as single-use plastic packaging alternatives can be hard to find. Throwaway plastic is almost synonymous with consumer goods and is often still the most common option found for straws, takeout containers, bottles, bags and food wrappers. We need to change the system. 

Plastic-free bulk food stores and package-free options are popping up around the country. But many people in Australia and around the world do not have access to affordable package-free options. It can be nearly impossible to find essentials like shampoo, dish soap, and toothpaste that aren’t packaged in single-use plastic.

Access to refillable, plastic-free options in our communities should be more than a “nice to have” and for those that can afford the often higher price point. 

That’s why Greenpeace is asking supporters to demand corporations that produce goods packaged in single-use plastic switch to a reuse and refill system.

Sign our petition to tell Coca-Cola and Pepsi to move away from polluting single use plastics.

PETITION

Corporations like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestlé, and Unilever have been among the worst plastic polluters – as reported in Greenpeace’s Break Free from Plastic global brand audits four years in a row.

After a beach cleanup held in 45 countries, nearly 20,000 Coca-Cola branded products were collected from polluted sites. Only 9% of plastic waste products are actually recycled according to data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (1). Which is why pushing for reuse and refill products from big corporations is vital to reducing plastic waste. 

Coca-Cola became the first big brand to announce a commitment to make at least 25% of their packaging reusable or refillable by 2030, according to the 2021 brand audit report (2). While this announcement was a step in the right direction, as one of the top polluting brands in the world, we need Coca-Cola to set more ambitious targets for reducing plastic waste. 

Another key player in the plastic pollution game, PepsiCo has indicated their intention, not a confirmed commitment, to set a refill and reuse goal by the end of 2022. 

Recycling alone can’t this huge plastic pollution problem.

Will Pepsi seize this moment to beat Coca-Cola to a refill and reuse system that can reduce new throwaway plastics from entering our oceans and food systems that are impacting billions of people and wildlife around the world?

Join Greenpeace in turning up the heat on big brands. Sign our petition today calling on Coca-Cola and Pepsi to move to a reuse and refill model and away from polluting single use plastics.

Lisa Ramsden is a Senior Oceans Campaigner at Greenpeace. 

Sign the our global petition today!
Tell Coca-Cola and Pepsi to move away from polluting single use plastics.

PETITION

Sources:

(1)  Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 2022

(2) Greenpeace Breakfree from Plastic Report 2021