Pacific Island countries, like others around the world, are evaluating their plastics use. The global bioplastics market (bio-based and/or biodegradable plastics) is projected to increase in the next decade, with their use in a range of sectors including agriculture/horticulture, aquaculture, fisheries, and food and non-food packaging. While in restricted and specific applications they may bring some advantages over conventional durable fossil-based plastics, caution is required to ensure these materials do not become regrettable substitutions, presenting hazards to organisms and human health, or contributing to social, economic and environmental burdens.
This fact sheet explains the sometimes inconsistent use of the various terms: bioplastics, biobased plastics and plastics with biodegradable properties – and why it is crucial that the Global Plastics Treaty address this topic.
Access to reliable scientific information is essential for the success of the UN Global Plastic Treaty. It is needed via working groups to support negotiations now, and in the longer term via a dedicated subsidiary body to the Treaty. This policy brief sets out the rationale, provides a timeline for implementation, and suggests how the[…]
The UN international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution (UNEA resolution 5/14) aims to reduce plastics pollution. However, midstream and downstream assessments show that optimizing waste management, removal technologies, and improved circularity is not sufficient to curb plastics pollution in the short-, mid- or long-term. Therefore, we have to look upstream to the root of[…]
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This fact sheet provides an overview over the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution we are facing.
Scientists’ Coalition’s response to the revised draft text of the international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (UNEP/PP/INC.4/3). Download the full response (English) Download the Summary of the Revised Zero Draft (English) Download the Summary of the Revised Zero Draft (French) The Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastic Treaty expresses[…]