Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations: Could Recycled Content Be a Backdoor to Restricting Virgin Plastic Production?
The final round of negotiations for the Global Plastics Treaty will begin at the United Nations European Headquarters in Geneva from August 5th to 14th. The issue of limits on virgin (virgin) plastic production remains a key point of contention. While nearly 100 countries have called for global production and consumption targets, major plastics producers, led by the United States, are strongly opposed. Recycled content requirements and reusable packaging are emerging as potential compromises.
In these negotiations over global plastic pollution control, the issue of a production cap remains a core disagreement. Supporters argue that global plastic waste is already difficult to manage, and that future pollution will worsen if virgin plastic production is not restricted. Countries like Panama emphasize that plastic pollution threatens fisheries, tourism, and coastal communities, and must be addressed through upstream production restrictions. However, major plastics producers and fossil fuel miners, such as the United States, have expressed opposition, arguing that this would harm the manufacturing industry. Industry organizations have also warned that it could increase consumer costs and even lead to the substitution of materials with higher environmental footprints.
Against this backdrop, mandatory recycled content requirements are seen as a path to consensus. Rob Kaplan, CEO of Singapore's Circular Capital, pointed out that requiring products to use a certain percentage of recycled content is essentially equivalent to limiting the use of virgin plastic and is more aligned with market mechanisms. In countries like India and Colombia, government regulations on recycled content have significantly boosted recycling systems. Consumer goods giant SC Johnson has also demonstrated this approach through its own practice-its use of virgin plastic has decreased by 33% since 2018, largely due to demand-side measures such as post-consumer recycled content and lightweight packaging. The company has also called for the inclusion of a "demand cap" to further reduce reliance on virgin materials through refill and reuse mechanisms.
The draft treaty shows significantly greater consensus on recycled content and reuse targets, with the relevant clauses largely uncontroversial. However, the production cap clause is heavily bracketed, indicating significant disagreement. Industry organizations such as the World Plastics Council favor the former, advocating a focus on "ending pollution" rather than "ending production," and building a circular model by gradually increasing recycled content targets.
However, environmental protection and academic circles believe that a single measure is insufficient. A University of California study suggests that effectively reducing pollution requires a combination of a production cap (e.g., maintaining 2020 levels) and a 40% recycled content requirement. Furthermore, waste management capacity in low-income countries needs to be strengthened, and plastic packaging fees should be implemented. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) emphasizes the need for the treaty to include extended producer responsibility and full lifecycle controls for high-risk products, but also acknowledges that political realities may limit the ultimate outcome.
As negotiations begin in Geneva, compromise is key. Grenada's Climate Ambassador, Safiya Sawney, stated that countries need to set aside their entrenched positions and strike a balance between ambition and feasibility. Regardless of whether a production cap is ultimately adopted, demand-side measures such as recycled content have become a crucial force driving transformation in the plastics industry, and their effectiveness may determine the future direction of global plastic pollution control.
