Governance & Policy
Global Plastics Treaty (in negotiation)
Definition
The Global Plastics Treaty is a proposed international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, mandated by UN Environment Assembly resolution 5/14 in 2022. Negotiations through an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee cover the full lifecycle of plastics, from production and product design to waste management. No treaty text had been agreed by 19 August 2026, and the next formal negotiating session, INC-5.4, was scheduled for March 2027.
References
Mandate, negotiation process and status
Existing plastics-waste trade rules
Current negotiation status and schedule for INC-5.4
Overview
What it means
If agreed, it would be the first global treaty addressing plastic production itself, not just plastic waste — which is exactly why it is contested.
How it is used
Companies scenario-plan for production caps and design mandates; observers track INC sessions; "plastics treaty" has become shorthand in corporate plastics commitments.
Why it matters
Plastic pollution is projected to keep growing without production-side measures; the treaty's outcome will shape packaging, chemicals and recycling markets for decades.
Current status note
Status checked on 19 August 2026: no treaty text has been agreed. UNEP has scheduled INC-5. 4 for March 2027.