According to the OECD, plastic leakage to the environment is projected to double to 44 million tonnes (Mt) per year.
Getty Images, Photo Seagull
From November 25 to December 1, the final negotiations of the Global Plastics Treaty (INC-5) are taking place in Busan, South Korea, with the aim of concluding an agreement on a global instrument to address plastic pollution. The intention of G20 partners and the European Union (EU) is to achieve this goal by the end of the year.
Regarding this, the Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Maroš Šefčovič explained: "We need coordinated global policies to change plastic production and consumption patterns in a way that delivers for people and the planet."
"We now have a chance to demonstrate how we can take action jointly to promote a more circular and sustainable economy for plastics. The EU is ready to engage with other parties and build bridges for agreeing a global treaty by the end of the year," he expressed.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), more than 127 countries had already introduced rules on single-use plastics before the negotiations started.
The EU proposes improving the circularity of the plastic industry by setting requirements for countries to control their high and unsustainable levels of primary plastic polymer production.
It also urges world leaders to promote the elimination of hazardous chemicals in plastics and problematic products. Countries will be tasked with leading the design of more circular and sustainable products.
To prevent plastic pollution in the oceans and other environments, the institution advocates for banning the intentional addition of microplastics in products.
Finally, the agreement includes provisions for major producers to take on their share of financial responsibility for plastic pollution and for the development of waste management infrastructure.
At the beginning of this year, a plastic pellets disaster stroke Spanish coast and seafood producers. Over 26 metric tonnes of plastic pellets were released after several containers fell from the deck of Liberian-flagged container ship Toconao.
In addition to contaminating beaches and shorelines, local communities fear the impact the plastic pollution will have on fish and shellfish, as marine creatures are likely to consume the pellets, mistaking them for prey.
More than 800 marine and coastal species are affected by plastic pollution through ingestion, entanglement, and other dangers. Furthermore, around 11 million tonnes of plastic waste flow annually into oceans, which may triple by 2040.