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 gratitude to the Chair and Secretariat for preparing the revised Zero Draft (rZD), to which we present our commentary. We strongly urge member states to prioritise independent scientific evidence in decision-making while drawing from the precedents of other multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs). Our commentary emphasises the imperative of addressing plastic pollution within the broader context of interconnected human and planetary threats. This is best achieved by prioritising mandatory measures that simplify and reduce global quantities of plastics produced.
The evidence-based assessment criteria proposed in this document and a subsequent comprehensive regulatory framework will enable baselines and targets for global plastics production reduction, and phase-outs of unsustainable, hazardous and non-essential plastics while ensuring transparency throughout the supply chain. Our proposal, set out here, will not only strengthen global policy, but, when also implemented at regional and national levels, will further strengthen plastic pollution prevention at multiple scales of governance. This proposal is intended not only to reduce global plastic production, but to assess systems and technologies at mid and downstream for safety, sustainability, transparency, and essentiality while adopting a holistic lifecycle approach. We also stress the importance of a just transition through sector-specific implementation measures guided by principles of prevention, precaution, polluter-pays, and non-regression.
Reponse de la Coalition Scientifique au Projet de texte revise
This short document provides an overview of useful scientific resources for each of the four clusters and other discussion topics planned by the Chair for the upcoming HoDs meetings. Download the document: In English here In French here In Spanish here
This document is part of a series on key sources of micro- and nanoplastics to the environment. It was originally published in 2024, and has been updated and republished in 2026. Download the document: Paint – A key source of microplastics to the environment (EN)
This document is part of a series on key sources of micro- and nanoplastics to the environment. It was originally published in 2024, and has been updated and republished in 2026. Download the document: Microfibres from textiles: Fate, effects, and mitigation strategies (EN)
This document is part of a series on key sources of micro- and nanoplastics to the environment. It was originally published in 2024, and has been updated and republished in 2026. Download the document: Intentionally added plastics in personal care products (EN)
This document is part of a series on key sources of micro- and nanoplastics to the environment. It was originally published in 2024, and has been updated and republished in 2026. Download the document: Plastic pellets, powders, and flakes – a key source of microplastics to the environment (EN)