At the first meeting with observers in the ongoing negotiations for a global plastics treaty (INC), our Co-Director Olga Speranskaya delivered an intervention on behalf of HEJSupport, the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, and groundWork South Africa.
Her message was clear:
👉 Participation of civil society must go beyond formalities and brief interventions.
👉 Transparency, accountability, and real influence on the negotiation text are essential.
👉 And critically — plastics are not just a waste issue. They are a chemicals and health issue.
As highlighted in the intervention :
- The treaty must address the full lifecycle of plastics, including reducing production
- It must include global, harmonized measures to eliminate toxic chemicals
- And it must ensure transparency and traceability of chemical substances in plastics
Without this, we risk reinforcing health inequalities and undermining a safe circular economy.
“Plastics with toxic chemicals are incompatible with a safe circular economy — ignoring chemicals risks doing more harm than good.”
We also emphasized the urgent need to protect Small Island Developing States, which are disproportionately affected by plastic pollution and require strong upstream solutions.
🎥 A recording of the intervention will be shared below — we encourage you to watch and engage.
The plastics treaty is a once-in-a-generation opportunity.
Let’s ensure it delivers on health, transparency, and justice.
