Why PLA Must Have a Place in a Global Plastics Treaty?
As nations around the world gather in August for the fifth session of the United Nations Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2), plastics treaty negotiations are at a turning point. Negotiators are tasked with crafting a treaty that will define the future of materials, trade, and waste management. However, amidst the debate over bans and recycling targets, a key point must not be lost: solutions already exist and are readily scalable.
Polylactic acid (PLA)-a bioplastic made from renewable resources-is a proven, practical, and recyclable alternative to traditional plastics. If we are serious about reducing plastic pollution and supporting sustainable development, PLA must be considered part of the global solution. Because PLA is made from plants like sugarcane and corn, it stores biogenic carbon rather than releasing fossil carbon into the atmosphere. Unlike many other alternatives, it is already being used by leading brands in food packaging, compostable coffee capsules, disposable medical supplies, 3D printing, and more.
A circular economy benefits everyone-including the Global South.
Environmental solutions won't work if they're too expensive or complex to implement. This is precisely the advantage of PLA. Industrial composting, a key end-of-life treatment pathway, is both economical and scalable. Composting facilities can be eight times cheaper to build than plastic recycling plants and are easier to operate and maintain-ideal for regions lacking well-developed waste management systems.
Furthermore, PLA's widely available feedstock means that countries can implement local production with investment in technical training and policy frameworks. Currently, only 0.001% of global agricultural land is used for PLA production, and its expansion poses no threat to food security.
PLA's appeal is further enhanced by its multiple recycling pathways:
*It can be mechanically recycled like traditional plastics.
*It can also be chemically recycled through hydrolysis, a low-energy process that maintains carbon integrity and food contact safety.
*It can also be industrially composted, which is crucial for contaminated food packaging that can't be mechanically recycled.
This flexibility is exactly what we need in our fragmented global waste management system. In countries where mechanical recycling isn't yet possible, industrial composting offers an immediate and low-emission option that can divert material from landfill.
The Global Plastics Treaty's ready-made solutions:
Let's be pragmatic: We don't have time to wait for perfect technology. The treaty must prioritize readily available, scalable, and proven materials. PLA fits the bill perfectly.
Countries like Italy have demonstrated the potential of well-established composting infrastructure-they operate over 300 composting facilities, recycling valuable organic matter while producing biogas. Now imagine if this model were replicated globally, enabled by materials like PLA.
If a treaty mandated that all packaging be recyclable or compostable by 2030, as the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) does, then materials like PLA should be included-not excluded.
PLA isn't a silver bullet, but it's a crucial, readily available tool in the circular economy toolbox with scalable potential. It can enable countries to leapfrog to a more sustainable system without waiting for perfect infrastructure or decades-long transitions.
If a global plastics treaty truly aims to be fair, science-based, and future-proof, then PLA must be part of it. Not just because it's low-carbon, compostable, or recyclable-but because it works today, across different regions, income levels, and sectors around the world. Don't miss the opportunity to include real solutions in the treaty. The world doesn't need more promises, it needs proven progress. The PLA can do just that-and it deserves a seat at the table.
