The final INC meeting of the Plastics Treaty negotiation is rapidly upon us, and a new process with revived momentum is underway with the Chair’s non-paper. The Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty has been supporting delegates, negotiators and other actors in accessing robust, independent scientific evidence to support decision making, and we have been following this new process closely.
The peer-reviewed scientific evidence around plastics pollution is clear, and from that science we can derive essential elements that are necessary to achieve the goal of ending plastics pollution by addressing the full life cycle of plastics, to protect human health and the environment.
In this one-page summary, we present key elements for an effective and successful treaty based on peer-reviewed science, including a well-defined scope, effective means of implementation, and several important globally and nationally mandated obligations.
Read and download the one-page summary 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: 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)
This policy brief addresses the challenge of monitoring plastic pollution in the context of the Global Plastics Treaty. Download in English Download in French
It is estimated 12.7 million metric tons (MT) of plastics enter the environment as microplastics every year, the main sources being paint, tyres, pellets, textiles and personal care products. There are substantial additional quantities from the fragmentation of larger items of plastic that have already entered the environment as debris. The following document is part[…]