The first results of the talks on plastics

The first Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC1) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, continues in Uruguay. Many representatives of civil society organizations from around the world, including HEJSupport, SSNC, groundWork SA, participate in INC 1, advocating for public engagement, recognition of human rights, and protecting people’s health and the environment from plastic pollution. One of the critical discussions for the implementation of the treaty is about the inclusion of legally binding harmonized chemical information transparency requirements throughout the entire plastic lifecycle.

A growing number of countries support the need to disclose toxic substances in plastics in their statements, including Peru, Switzerland, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Armenia, Georgia, Costa Rica, Gabon, Maldives and Fiji. Armenia, Georgia, Costa Rica, and Rwanda specifically advocate the importance of including a requirement to disclose such information throughout the whole lifecycle of plastics in the text of the treaty. The Secretariat of the BRS Chemical Conventions also emphasized the importance of disclosing chemical information and monitoring plastics.

Countries listed above noted that they would support a treaty that encourages information transparency throughout the supply chain regarding the type of plastics, additives and chemicals involved. Voluntary national approaches have proven insufficient to address plastic pollution. To prohibit toxic substances used in the manufacture and processing of plastics, global and harmonized requirements for transparency of chemical information throughout the plastic lifecycle should become an essential step forward.

The effectiveness of the future plastic treaty implementation depends on the availability of accurate information about what substances are present in plastic materials and products through the entire plastic lifecycle. Such a position by countries has primarily resulted from the tremendous work done by non-governmental organizations. In their speeches and informational materials, they have consistently emphasized the need to disclose toxic substances in plastics as the basis for a new plastic agreement.

The lack of similar requirements in existing international environmental agreements has led to severe problems, including environmental contamination and consumer products with already banned chemicals.

The call for countries to include a legally binding harmonized requirement to ensure disclosure of chemicals in plastic throughout its lifecycle has been signed by over 70 organizations and is available at: https://www.globalchemicaltransparency.org/…

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