At plastic treaty talks, no united front for industry

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BUSAN: Is virgin plastic production vital or completely unsustainable? For the industry lobbyists at UN talks on plastic pollution, the answer is far from unanimous.

The corridors of the Busan Exhibition and Convention Centre, where the treaty to curb plastic pollution is being negotiated, teem with corporate representatives.

There are the chemical and petrochemical firms whose products are the precursors for plastic, the food and cosmetic companies whose packaging depends on it, and the automakers whose vehicles are increasingly full of it.

All back a treaty, but what they want to see in it differs significantly, particularly on the issue of production. “Production caps and reducing the amount of material in the system would impact those least able to afford it the most,” warned Stewart Harris, spokesman for the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA).

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The body groups global industry associations and is pushing for a treaty focused on waste management rather than manufacturing limits. “We see the need for more material in the system overall,” Harris said, urging a focus on “circularity” instead of restrictions on new production.

‘A big problem’

It’s a position echoed by some in the auto sector, who say recycled plastic cannot yet meet the stringent safety requirements for vehicles.

Mark Bacchus, senior manager at Toyota, also warned that the electrification of cars will require more plastic to balance out their heavier batteries. “If we have a scenario where plastics are going to be less available, that’s going to cause a big problem for us,” he said.

That is not the view taken by the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, which groups several hundred firms including multinationals like Nestle, Unilever, Ikea and Lego. They have endorsed a call for a reduction of production and use, including of single-use products, as well as the possible phaseout of chemicals considered harmful to human health.

Jodie Roussell, global public affairs lead for packaging and sustainability at Nestle, said the position was good business. “Different members of the value chain have different interests based on their core business,” she said.

“We’re in the food and beverage industry. Our core interest is a stable climate and a clean environment.” For these companies, a global treaty also offers the chance of a level playing field, forcing everyone to invest in things like redesigning items for reusability and incorporating recycled material into products.

“Businesses can’t do it alone, and we need multilateral legislation to be put into place,” she said.

‘Champions of Change’

The group stops short of endorsing any numerical target for reduction of new plastic production, arguing that the position is so far from being adopted widely that doing so would not advance the talks.

Cutting production is among the most divisive issues on the table for the negotiators from nearly 200 countries.

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2024