A comprehensive global plastics treaty is an important step in addressing plastic pollution worldwide from all sources, including nurdle pollution. The treaty is a significant opportunity to address the issue of nurdle pollution globally, with mandatory regulation vital to preventing nurdle pollution throughout the global plastic supply chain. Between 23rd –29th April in Ottawa, Canada, the fourth round of negotiations for a ‘global plastics treaty’ took place, known as INC4. This is purportedly the penultimate round of negotiations to develop an international legally binding instrument (ILBI) commonly referred to as the ‘Global Plastics Treaty’ on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.
Though some progress was made at INC4 toward developing a final treaty, fundamental issues remain, with much still to be decided on in the final round of negotiations in November 2024. It is essential to continue to call upon policy makers around the world to commit to action on pellets to ensure a comprehensive final treaty.
What was discussed?
Following the third round of talks (INC3) which took place at the end of 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya (read all about what happened in our previous blog), a text document known as the ‘Revised Zero Draft’ was produced and was the basis of initial negotiations during INC4.
A particularly prominent area of discussions at INC4 was how primary plastic polymer production would be addressed by the treaty (if at all), with many nations calling for it’s inclusion in the treaty. However a number of nations asserted that primary plastics should not be included, and instead focus on plastic waste. This significant issue remains unresolved ahead of INC5. Other areas of intense negotiations included around finance and the financial mechanisms needed to implement the outcome of the final treaty and extended producer responsibility (EPR). Meanwhile fundamental issues of procedure including how the final treaty will be adopted (by consensus or vote) remains unresolved ahead of the final round of negotiations.
Industry make their presence felt
Once again civil society and some nations raised concern over the conflicts of interest present at negotiations. The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) reported that 194 fossil fuel and chemical industry representatives were present at negotiations, including as members of a number of national delegations. This represents a 37% increase from the 143 reported present at INC3, out numbering the delegates from the EU (180) and is three times more than then members of independent scientist groups (58). Robust conflict of interest policies are essential to prevent the potential for the treaty development process being undermined.
What about plastic pellets?
Discussions regarding Part II, Section 8 , which contains text relating to plastic pellets was undertaken by contact group 1. Discussions did make some progress in beginning to streamline text in Section 8. Support for the addressing of plastic pellets and the full life cycle of plastics was expressed by a number of nations . Unfortunately, with the text up on screen and streamlining discussions poised to progress to negotiations on substance, the co-facilitators called time on the working group. Sadly, this decision meant that no substantial discussions on the pellet provision took place this session with the co-facilitators indicating that the working group – together with the list of countries lined up to intervene – would resume at the fifth session of the INC later this year. A frustrating position for many in the room.
Many attendees continued to reach out to delegates in the side lines of INC4, discussing the issue and potential solutions, including recommended text. On the second day of the negotiations, Natacha Tullis from The Pew Charitable Trusts' Preventing Ocean Plastics team used a panel appearance at a side-event entitled ‘Plastic Pollution in the Marine Environment’ to highlight the need for plastic pellets to be addressed in the final treaty.
This opportunity was used to raise awareness of how plastic pellet pollution is the third largest source of microplastic pollution worldwide — responsible for negative impacts around the globe, including on human health and throughout ecosystems — as well as how this form of pollution could be prevented by adopting a systemic supply-chain approach within the global plastics treaty.
“Many participants were eager to learn more, and by showcasing examples of both acute and chronic loss we were able to present delegates with key policy recommendations that should be integrated if an ambitious outcome is to be achieved.” - Natacha Tullis
What happens next?
Ahead of INC5, intersessional working groups will continue to work on important areas of the treaty and feedback their findings. Two intersessional working groups were agreed on the final day of INC4, with one covering issues associated with finance and financial mechanisms, and the second focusing on plastic product design including recycling and reuse, plastic products and chemicals of concern in plastic products. Unfortunately an intersessional group focusing on primary polymers was not created.
As well as intersessional working groups, it was agreed that a legal drafting group would be established and begin the process of working on the legal aspects for the final treaty at INC5.
At INC5 negotiations on treaty text will continue, this will be based on compiled text which was the outcome of contact-group discussions. This will be a significant task, with currently over 3,000 brackets in the working treaty text, meaning that text in these brackets is not yet agreed upon. Significant progress will need to be made to agree scope, implementation and decision making for the treaty to be a success.
With only a few days of negotiations left it is vital to continue to call on policy makers to be ambitious if we are to ensure the strongest possible treaty is produced to address the issue of plastic pellet pollution and plastic pollution at large.
Learn more about the global plastics treaty and find resources on our information hub.
Read detailed summary of INC4 here
The view from attendees
Tanya Cox, Fauna & Flora: ‘Seeing the pellet text up on the screen late in the night at INC4 but being unable to progress to negotiations felt very frustrating. For one reason or another, much time was lost at INC4 to get into the weeds of many of the specific measures, including plastic pellet loss. There is a lot of ground to cover at INC5 and we hope for a strong outcome for pellet pollution. With more attention on the issue than ever before, and a growing acceptance that pellet loss occurs at every stage of the life cycle and across the supply chain, I remain optimistic that clear and ambitious measures based on a supply chain approach for preventing pellet loss are on the horizon and encourage all delegates to reach out to us if we can be of support to achieve this goal.’