UN 'Plastic Treaty' Negotiations Set to Resume: Consensus Remains Elusive, United States (US) May Make a 360° Shift...

August 5, 2025Under the auspices of the United NationsThe Fifth Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2)The conference will be held again at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, in an attempt to reach a consensus on a legally binding global agreement to combat plastic pollution.As of the publication date, differences remain and the prospects for negotiations are still unclear.

Since the first round of negotiations was launched in Nairobi in December 2022, global "plastic treaty" discussions have gone through several rounds but have yet to reach a final agreement. The INC-5.0 meeting, held in South Korea in December 2024, reached a stalemate, with differing explanations from various parties: environmental organizations like Greenpeace point to strong lobbying by the petrochemical industry as the main obstacle, while industry representatives argue that the negotiations have overly expanded their goals by attempting to limit plastic production itself, deviating from the original intent of controlling pollution.

The basis for negotiation at this Geneva conference is the “Chair’s Text” drafted on December 1, 2024, which clearly states the goal of “taking comprehensive measures at all stages of the plastic lifecycle to protect human health and the environment, especially the marine environment, from the impacts of plastic pollution.” The draft outlines in detail various possible pathways to achieve this goal, but due to the involvement of multiple stages including production, consumption, recycling, and governance, implementation is quite challenging.

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The U.S. stance may become a key variable.

It is worth noting that the shift in the U.S. stance may become a significant variable in these negotiations. The current U.S. President, Trump, opposes multilateralism.Under his leadership, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has gradually revoked several regulatory policies targeting the chemical industry.Analysts point out that under the directives of the Trump administration, the U.S. delegation may adopt a more pragmatic rather than radical approach compared to the Biden era.

Last yearBusan, South Korea (INC-5.1)During the negotiations, the Biden administration strongly supported the "High Ambition Coalition," which consists of more than 60 countries.advocates for mandatory restrictions on plastic production and the implementation of bans on problematic plastics. This stance stands in stark contrast to the Trump administration’s strategy of avoiding production caps. There is widespread attention on whether the United States will play the role of "mediator" at INC-5.2 and promote the reaching of an agreement.

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Multinational corporations call for unified regulations, Greenpeace continues to exert pressure.

On July 28, multinational consumer goods giant Unilever issued a statement titled "Now Is the Time to Advance a Plastics Treaty," calling for the establishment of unified global regulations to address the current fragmentation in packaging management. Ed Shepherd, Unilever's Senior Global Sustainability Manager, stated."Unified regulations will promote cross-border consistency while supporting the independent goals of each country. This is of great significance for businesses operating across markets, as it not only enhances decision-making stability but also reduces capital costs."

Shepherd also emphasized that relying solely on end-of-pipe solutions is not sufficient to completely solve the problem. It is necessary to regulate the total production and consumption to achieve sustainable plastic use.

At the same time,Greenpeace continues to pressure petrochemical giants.On July 29, its UK branch released a report revealing that since the start of treaty negotiations at the end of 2022, seven major petrochemical companies have produced enough plastic to fill 6.3 million garbage trucks, equivalent to producing five and a half trucks per minute. These companies are accused of actively lobbying governments to oppose reducing plastic production, with the intention of hindering the progress of a global treaty.

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Summary and Outlook

INC-5.2 will be held in Geneva from August 5 to 14, marking a crucial step towards realizing the global vision for plastic pollution governance.Finding a balance between environmental groups, the petrochemical industry, and various governments still requires difficult political maneuvering and multilateral compromise.

The plastic industry, recycling enterprises, and relevant policymakers should closely follow the negotiation process. Regardless of whether a final agreement is reached, the global trend towards plastic lifecycle management is irreversible, and the industry will face more unified and stringent international regulations in the future.