What is the Global Plastics Treaty and Why Does it Matter?

As the world is slowly transitioning away from fossil-based fuels to renewable energy, petrostates and fossil fuel and petrochemical companies are doubling down on plastic production to safeguard long-term profit growth. Plastic production currently accounts for about 4% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and generates around 460 million tonnes of plastic annually, with 76% of this volume ending up as waste. With plastic pollution now detected in almost every corner of the Earth, directly harming humans, biodiversity, and ecosystems, the stakes are critical. Yet, industry growth is projected to triple by 2060 if left unregulated. Unchecked expansion would release  huge amounts of emissions, accelerate global warming, and exacerbate the pollution crisis.

In response, the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) resolved to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, known as the Global Plastics Treaty. The Treaty aims to regulate plastics across their full lifecycle, from production and design to disposal. However, as of early 2026, it remains unadopted. Its development has been consistently undermined by negotiations overtaken by intense lobbying from fossil fuel and petrochemicals interests, leading to a significant diplomatic deadlock in August 2025.

The Global Plastic Treaty: Origin and Current Status.

Initiated in March 2022 by the UNEA – the world’s highest-level decision-making body for environmental matters, the Treaty was originally mandated to be finalised by the end of 2024. However, by early 2026, the negotiation process was officially considered deadlocked.

Despite six formal meetings of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) - the body established to develop the Treaty, member states have failed to agree on the final text. The process hit breaking point during the sixth session (INC-5.2) in Geneva in August 2025, which ended without agreement. Following this session and its resulted frustration, the chairman Luis Vayas Valdivieso, stepped down in late 2025.

Negotiations briefly reconvened in February 2026 for a specific session (INC-5.3) dedicated to selecting new leadership from which Ambassador Julio Cordano from Chile was then announced as the new Chair. His mandate is to reset the dialogue and prepare the ground for renewed and hopefully this time productive negotiations with INC-5.4 expected to take place in 2027.

What's Slowed Down the Process?

The change in leadership was deemed necessary because, after six meetings, major disagreements persisted regarding the Treaty’s core scope. The central fault line dividing nations on whether the Treaty should tackle plastic production (the source of pollution) or merely waste management (the symptoms).

The collapse of talks in August 2025 was largely attributed to the overwhelming presence of industry lobbyists. An estimated 234 fossil fuel and chemical industry lobbyists registered for the session, outnumbering the combined diplomatic delegations of all 27 EU nations (233). Advocates for oil-producing nations, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the United States, argued that the Treaty should focus exclusively on end-of-life solutions, such as waste collection and recycling, explicitly rejecting caps on virgin plastic production.

Conversely, the High Ambition Coalition, comprising over 75 nations (including the EU member states), pushed for a robust Treaty that limits global plastic production, mandates strict design standards, and bans hazardous chemicals. Additional friction points included the financial mechanisms for developing nations and the decision-making rules for future amendments. While the election of Chair Julio Cordano offers a path to restore momentum, concerns remain that the disproportionate influence of petro-state lobbying will continue to hinder progress.

What the Future Looks Like.

The election of Julio Cordano marks a reset for the Treaty and gives hope for a robust instrument. However, its success hinges on the March 2026 Roadmap which outlines a streamlined process to bypass procedural gridlock and focus on finally developing a draft text through a series of informal meetings. A latest letter written by Cordano released on the 8^th of August 2026 shares the Aid to Negotiations – an informal document designed to facilitate discussions in a structured and productive manner.

And yet, some argue that this letter is less ambitious than the last draft presented in August 2025. For instance, Director of Environmental Health at the Center for International Environmental Law stated that:

“This text seems designed with one objective in mind: To stay sufficiently empty to ensure the biggest polluters won’t reject it. This is what happens when the countries most invested in delay get to help set the agenda. But we should remember that the ultimate goal of this process is not to deliver any treaty just for the sake of an agreement; it’s to deliver a treaty that ends plastic pollution.”

In short, the following months ahead of INC-5.4 will be critical in shaping a Treaty that actually addresses the cause of plastic waste: its production. This means all organisations – small and large – should raise their voice and encourage the development of a Treaty that tackles the plastic pollution crisis at its core.

What Can Membership Bodies Do?

As the voice of entire industries and sectors, membership bodies have real influence to advocate and push for change. You can include plastic requirements and policies into your agenda and implement into strategy.

CAFA has also compiled a list of campaigns that your membership organisation can participate in and share with your own members:

1. BreakFreeFromPlastic: a movement to demand massive reductions in single-use plastics.

2. Global Plastics Treaty Now!: a petition by Greenpeace to champion a strong Global Plastics Treaty.

3. Demand a Strong Global Plastics Treaty: a petition by OnlyOne which also advocates for a robust Treaty.

4. Call on Global Plastics Treaty Chair to address subsidies for plastic in treaty text: a petition by Plastic Pollution Coalition.

5. Save the Ocean Pledge: a pledge by PADI to safeguard the planet.

CAFA is the resource and network dedicated to net zero and sustainability for the membership sector. We provide the resources, guidance, peer-to-peer network and solutions needed for your organisation to navigate the sustainability transition. Through our free membership, you can access the technical knowledge needed to understand how international agreements such as the Global Plastics Treaty impact your sector and members. Join CAFA today.