In 2022, the UN member states formed an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), to discuss what should be in the treaty. So far they have held 4 rounds of negotiations:

INC-1: November 2022 in Uruguay
INC-2: May 2023 in France
INC-3: November 2023 in Kenya
INC-4: April 2024 in Canada

INC-5, the next (and final scheduled) round, will be in Korea in November 2024.

Progress has been slower than expected, as a small minority of oil-producing countries are not happy about the extraction of raw materials needed to make plastics (i.e. fossil fuels) and plastic production being potentially limited in the treaty. They have tried to stall proceedings and remove any references to plastic production, which is widely recognised as the starting point for the harms done to nature, people and the climate.

Plastic pollution is a complex problem, but there are three key measures the treaty should contain:

1. Limit new plastic production
2. Identify and ban toxic chemicals in plastics
3. Increase transparency across the whole lifespan of plastics

If these 3 measures are included and are legally binding on all countries, they enable all the other issues to be solved.

• A limit on production would ease pressure on waste management systems and immediately improve the environment, the climate crisis and people’s health.
• Eliminating the toxic chemicals in plastics would immediately reduce the burden on our health and environment, make recycling safer and protect future generations from harm.
• Transparency would increase safety, allow targets to be set and hold polluters accountable from the extraction phase to disposal.

In addition, it is crucial to include fair financing for these measures: countries who do not produce the pollution should not pay to clean up its impacts; and investment should be directed into safe reuse systems, not single-use alternatives and never-ending waste management.

Groups like Trash Hero, as well as scientists, Indigenous Peoples, trade unions, and groups representing women and youth are invited to join the plastics treaty talks as “Observers”.  We can offer the negotiators our opinions, perspectives and expertise on the issues when asked, but we cannot vote or make any decisions.

Trash Hero was accredited by UNEP in 2022, which allows us to take part in person at the negotiations, alongside our colleagues from the Break Free From Plastic, GAIA and IPEN networks.

Educating yourself about the issues is probably the most important thing you can do. The more people are aware of the size and scope of the problem and what is needed to solve it – i.e. not the industry propaganda of “more recycling” – the better!

Once you are aware, talk to those around you, so we create pressure and momentum for a strong treaty with the 3 key measures we need to stop plastic pollution for good (see question 3, above). If you feel comfortable, you can write to your political representatives to ask them what they are supporting at the treaty talks, so they know people are watching.

You can also sign the petition calling for a strong treaty – this will be presented to negotiators ahead of INC-5 in November. To get the latest updates about the treaty, you can follow our social media @trashheroworld or @breakfreefromplastic or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.