The fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) took place in Busan, South Korea, from November 25 to December 1, 2024. It brought together representatives from over 170 countries to work on a global treaty to tackle plastic pollution. While there was progress, many challenges still need to be addressed. Here’s a simple breakdown of what happened.
Read MoreImagine a future where we produce 40% less virgin plastic by 2040. This is exactly what the “40x40” target aims to achieve, using 2025 as a baseline. Reducing plastic production on this scale would prevent 371 million tonnes of primary plastic from entering the market each year, totalling a 2.7 billion tonne reduction over 25 years. Such a bold target could fundamentally alter how we think about plastics and climate action, aligning the Global Plastics Treaty with international climate commitments like the Paris Agreement.
Read MoreToday, brands must prioritise sustainable practices. Zero Plastic Oceans (ZPO), a recognized non-profit, provides standards like Ocean Bound Plastic (OBP) and Social+ OBP, which help companies meet high social and environmental benchmarks. By partnering with ZPO-certified organisations, brands can ensure accountability and earn consumer trust.
Read MoreA recent report, “Plastic Money: Turning Off the Subsidies Tap,” lays it all out: governments in the top 15 polymer-producing countries are spending over USD 30 billion each year to subsidise plastic production. That’s right—while we’re scrambling to fix the mess plastic is causing, some of the world’s biggest economies are still propping up its production.
Read MoreThe brands making the most progress towards their recycling goals are those that integrate sustainability into their core business strategies. Rather than treating it as a standalone initiative, they weave it into the fabric of their operations.
These companies are working closely with organisations that help plug into their existing supply chains, leveraging the principles of the circular economy to secure raw materials in a sustainable way. This approach goes beyond merely setting targets—it involves creating the infrastructure and partnerships essential to achieving those goals.
Read MoreExtended Producer Responsibility is a policy approach that extends a producer’s responsibility for a product to the post-consumer stage of its lifecycle. In simpler terms, it means that companies that manufacture, import, or sell plastic products are also responsible for collecting and recycling those products after consumers are done with them.
Read MoreIn recent years, there’s been growing attention on the circular economy—a production model that involves businesses and consumers working together to minimise waste through sharing, lending, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling materials and products. This model offers a stark contrast to the linear model by promoting resource efficiency and sustainable use. The circular model not only eliminates waste but also regenerates resources, turning what is waste for one process into a valuable input for another.
Read MoreThe path to a circular economy can be challenging. Though things are changing, companies can still face some big hurdles, but the payoff is enormous. Switching to circular models is costly, and companies often balk at the price tag of overhauling their production lines and supply chain. Plus, there's the headache of tracking materials from start to finish.
Read MorePlastic waste has increased at an alarming rate in India, fueled by rapid urbanisation, population growth, and economic development. In urban areas, the demand for single-use plastics and packaging materials has risen drastically. India’s per capita plastic consumption has grown to approximately 11 kg per year, and this number is expected to rise further with increasing industrialization and consumerism.
Read MorePlastic pollution is often seen as a global issue—and it is. But according to the “A local-to-global emissions inventory of macroplastic pollution” article, the study shows us something even more critical: it’s also a very local issue. The new inventory doesn’t just highlight the global scope of plastic emissions; it zooms in on specific hotspots where plastic waste is being mismanaged. From crowded urban centres to remote rural areas, the data reveals where waste is leaking out of the system and ending up in our environment.
Read MoreLet’s talk about something a little more sustainable. We all love our fashion products, but it’s time to think about how they’re made and where they end up. In the ever-evolving fashion industry, packaging plays a crucial role in shaping a brand’s environmental and economic impact. For brands committed to sustainability, making informed, strategic decisions about packaging is not just a trend—it’s a necessity.
Read MoreThe Plastic Waste Management Framework underscores the need for a multifaceted approach to combat plastic waste. Countries must adopt contextually tailored strategies that consider their specific national circumstances, infrastructure capacities, and resources. The framework’s emphasis on integrating waste pickers, enforcing EPR, and utilising tools like DRS provides a roadmap for improving plastic waste management systems globally.
Read MoreIn our desperate search for solutions to the global plastic waste crisis, a dangerous idea has gained traction: burning plastic as a disposal method. This seemingly simple solution masks a multitude of severe consequences that threaten not only our immediate health but the very future of our planet. As we stand at the crossroads of environmental charge and convenience, it's crucial to understand why incinerating plastic is not just ill-advised—it's a potential catastrophe waiting to unfold.
Read MoreThe production of plastic contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. If plastic production and use grow as currently planned, by 2050, plastic-related emissions could reach 56 gigatons of carbon dioxide - 10-13% of the entire remaining carbon budget. Most plastics are derived from fossil fuels, with the petrochemical industry planning to invest $400 billion in additional plastic production capacity over the next five years, further exacerbating climate change.
Read MorePlastic offset schemes offer a promising solution, allowing businesses to compensate for their plastic use by supporting initiatives that remove or prevent plastic waste. While offsetting shouldn't replace efforts to reduce plastic consumption, it can be a valuable part of a comprehensive sustainability strategy. Here are ten innovative approaches companies can consider in offsetting their plastics.
The Circular Economy offers a transformative approach to our plastic problem. Unlike the linear “take-make-dispose” model, a circular economy aims to design out waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use, and regenerate natural systems.
Read MoreIt all starts with you. When you place your plastic items in the recycling bin, you're setting off a chain of events. In India, however, the formal waste collection system often falls short. According to a 2021 report by the Centre for Science and Environment, only 60% of India's plastic waste is collected. The informal sector, including waste pickers, plays a crucial role, collecting up to 60% of plastic waste in some cities.
Read MoreA significant portion of India's plastic recycling workforce operates in the informal sector, comprising individuals from underprivileged backgrounds. Many are migrants from rural areas or belong to socioeconomically disadvantaged groups like Dalits, tribes, and religious minorities, driven by economic necessity to take on this hazardous work. Their precarious financial situation often forces them to prioritise immediate income over personal safety.
Read MoreThe informal waste economy in Maharashtra is dominated by individuals from historically marginalised communities, such as Scheduled Castes (16.6% of the state’s population) and Scheduled Tribes (9.4%). This demographic faces deep-rooted social stigma and discrimination, leading to the intergenerational persistence of waste work. Mainstream society seldom recognizes their integral contribution, fostering feelings of alienation and isolation among an estimated 100,000 informal waste workers in the state.
Read MorePlastic waste is a big part of the household trash problem, making up about 11% of everything we throw away. That’s a whopping 250 million tons of plastic waste from homes each year, with another 110 million tons coming from factories. We clearly need to find better ways to manage this waste. Plastic has been amazing for consumer goods and packaging, but it takes forever to break down and those tiny microplastics are showing up everywhere – not good news for the environment.
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