CEOs Call for Binding Global Plastics Treaty

In an open letter, 22 CEOs from major corporations, including PepsiCo, Unilever, and Danone, have urged global leaders to establish a binding Global Plastics Treaty to combat plastic pollution ahead of the upcoming UN negotiations in Busan, South Korea. The letter calls for comprehensive measures such as the phase-out of harmful chemicals and the development of global standards for circular product design and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes. It emphasizes that relying solely on voluntary measures could delay necessary actions by decades and create regulatory fragmentation. The CEOs argue that a robust treaty would not only facilitate effective management of plastic waste but also create economic opportunities and reduce government spending on waste management. Many observers remain skeptical, questioning the commitment of the coalition to addressing production limits, which they see as essential to tackling plastic pollution effectively.