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The mission of the World Plastics Council is to help address the global challenges facing the plastics system while ensuring that society continues to benefit from plastics. That’s why we support the Global Plastics Treaty—a unique opportunity to eliminate additional plastic waste from the environment.
As an industry, we are committed to an ambitious, country-driven global agreement to help governments meet their goal of ending plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, by 2040. We support efforts focused on reducing plastic pollution and addressing climate change through the creation of a circular economy that works for every country.
Plastic manufacturers are already investing in circular infrastructure and innovation, but a truly collaborative approach and enabling framework are needed to accelerate the transition to circularity and are core to the treaty’s success.
As the voice of the global plastics industry, we are committed to fostering much-needed collaboration by building bridges and helping to find a common purpose with all stakeholders participating in the negotiations.
Since the second round of negotiations in Paris, the WPC has been promoting collaboration by facilitating dialogue between a wide range of stakeholders, including the plastics value chain, governments, the UN, NGOs, researchers, and financial institutions.
Our aim with these events is twofold. The first is to facilitate and enable more open dialogue on critical plastics issues by bringing all stakeholders together to share their views, knowledge, concerns, and hopes around a shared ambition to end plastic pollution. The second is to build each time on the exchanges and insights shared at the last, taking a deeper dive into key topics or issues raised.
At the World Plastics Council, we pride ourselves on our role as a convener. Global dialogue on issues of this magnitude is essential, and we hope that our events contribute to advancing shared understanding of the challenges facing us and the solutions available."
Collaborating to Accelerate a Circular Economy: How a global agreement can unleash innovation and accelerate circularity
This round table discussion sought to identify common areas of agreement and key measures on how a well-crafted agreement could accelerate industry and government efforts to address the global challenge of plastic waste.
Fostering Trust: Industry Commitment in Addressing Plastic Pollution
Discussions ahead of the negotiation in Nairobi zeroed in on the essential building blocks of trust and credibility between all stakeholders. We believe that creating trust between industry, governments, and civil society in a global agreement is essential for successful cooperation and policy implementation.
Plastics 360°: Perspectives on Enabling Policies for Circularity Across the Plastics Life Cycle
INC-4 marked a pivotal juncture in the INC’s pursuit of a binding global accord on plastic pollution.
In this context, the WPC roundtable event at INC-4 focused on the required enabling conditions for transitioning to a circular/whole value chain system to help end plastic pollution.
Investing in Impact: Shaping the Financial Framework for the Global Plastics Treaty
Our Executive-level Breakfast Roundtable on the sideline of the UN Climate Week brought to the forefront the unique challenges faced by different countries and the need for tailored solutions.
Fostering Collaboration and Trust for an Ambitious Global Plastics Treaty: Building Sustainable Solutions Together
In anticipation of the fifth and final round of negotiations for the Global Plastics Treaty (INC-5), the World Plastics Council (WPC) is organising a high-level networking reception on Sunday, 24 November
The evening’s discussions will reflect on the milestones achieved and the pivotal actions required in the treaty’s final stages.
As the World Plastics Council, we propose five key measures that we believe will help achieve a circular transition while improving the overall sustainability of the plastics value chain.
In line with our commitment to supporting governments’ efforts to end plastic pollution, the WPC works with experts and other like-minded partners to develop resources that enable science and fact-based decision-making.
This ‘decision tree’ proposes a globally standardised approach to identify and manage problematic and avoidable plastics, rather than arbitrary bans or restrictions on substances or materials, which are disconnected from the value that products add. It provides criteria to determine whether plastic applications are avoidable or problematic based on crucial factors such as the ability to improve circularity, waste management hierarchy, essential use and societal value, life-cycle assessment, and, more importantly, the possibility for implementation in a local context.
Plastic manufacturers are already investing in circular infrastructure and innovation to prevent used plastics from entering the environment as waste, landfill or via incineration, and instead become new plastics. Finding a common purpose and greater collaboration amongst all stakeholders is crucial to accelerating this progress and incentivising the billions of dollars of additional investment required to tackle plastic pollution.
Planned, Operational, or Under Construction
Investments that are operational, under construction,
or planned to scale up recycling infrastructure globally.
Whether you’re hydrating with a refreshing sip of water, staying in touch with friends and family, enjoying the comforts of home, or nourishing your body with fresh food, plastics play a crucial role in your everyday life. Of course, not all plastics are created equal, and different applications call for different properties. Learn more about the various types of plastic and their particular applications and benefits.
