International discussions on plastic waste management might be shaped by China pledging to reduce plastic production levels.
In Ottawa, Canada, world leaders are gathered for a crucial meeting, negotiating a legally binding international treaty aimed at curbing plastic pollution. The High Ambition Coalition, comprising over 60 countries including European Union members, Australia, and Japan, is pushing for a strong treaty that will limit plastic production and ensure greater transparency and regulation of chemicals and components used in the plastic manufacturing process.
At the forefront of plastic production is China, the world's largest producer and exporter of virgin plastics. Despite China's 2018 ban on imports of plastic waste, foreign plastic waste exports were merely redirected to other nations such as Thailand and Malaysia. China is also the world's second largest source of mismanaged plastic waste.
The surge in petrochemical production in China has led to a global oversupply of industrial chemicals used in plastic such as polyethylene, causing the price of virgin plastics to plummet. This surplus presents a hurdle to advocating for recycled plastic usage due to the competitive disadvantage created by the availability of lower-priced virgin materials.
The Like-Minded Countries, including China, have expressed support for an international plastic treaty. However, China has emphasized a balanced approach that considers development needs and calls for cooperative solutions rather than imposing strict production cuts unilaterally. The coalition, which includes fossil fuel-dependent nations such as Saudi Arabia and Russia, welcomes a global framework that includes reduction but also focuses on sustainable management and circular economy principles.
China's stance is that the treaty should focus on the effective management of plastic waste, not reducing production. This view is not universally shared within the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), which is divided on the issue of reducing plastic production.
The Scientists' Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty recommends reducing plastic production to address plastic pollution. They argue that plastic waste can persist in the environment for hundreds of years, potentially impacting human health. Less than 10% of plastic waste produced globally to date has been recycled, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The current conference in Ottawa is the fourth of five INC sessions discussing a potential plastic treaty, with the fifth and final session set to be held in Busan, South Korea in November 2024. The outcome of these negotiations could shape the future of plastic production and waste management on a global scale.
