Plastics
Plastics and Climate: Is the Treaty up to the challenge?
As COP29 continues in Azerbaijan and with just days left before the fifth round of negotiations for the Global Plastics Treaty in Busan, a new report by Eunomia Research & Consulting for the Environmental Investigation Agency has raised serious concerns. The findings reveal that current commitments to reduce plastic production fall short of meeting the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target. The climate impact, a key element of the triple planetary crisis, has largely been overlooked in these negotiations.
Eunomia’s analysis of the ambitious 40x40 target – aiming for a 40% reduction in global primary plastic production by 2040 – uncovers several challenges:
- Unrealistic recycling targets: With plastic demand continuing to rise, reaching a 40% reduction would require a 63% recycling rate, which is highly unlikely.
- Need for drastic demand cuts: To meet this target, global plastic demand would need to decrease by 35% by 2040, cutting 269 million tonnes annually.
- Insufficient decarbonisation: Even with major reductions in production and a shift towards cleaner processes, the plastic industry would still fail to meet the Paris Agreement’s climate goals.
New Commitments
Why should the new European Commission adopt a holistic circular approach?
While the European Union has made significant progress toward a circular economy, the results so far have been underwhelming. The EU’s circular material use rate has only slightly increased, exposing the gap between ambition and achievement.
As the EU appoints a dedicated Commissioner for Circular Economy, a more comprehensive and enforceable framework is needed to govern material and resource management. This would help accelerate the transition to a circular economy and reduce Europe's reliance on scarce resources.
Ahead of the European Commissioner hearings at the European Parliament, 14 major EU organisations are calling for a more ambitious approach to circular economy policy, including:
- Creating a systemic vision: Set binding EU targets for resource use reduction to drive competitiveness and circular material use.
- Improving economic tools: Shift taxes from labour to raw material extraction to align incentives with circular economy goals.
- Incorporating circular economy criteria in trade policy: Position the EU as a leader in global circular economy standards and assess trade agreements’ socioeconomic impacts.
- Expanding Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Enhance EPR frameworks to promote prevention, reuse, and recycling across the EU.
- Leveraging public procurement: Integrate circular economy principles into public procurement to stimulate sustainable practices.
- Empowering local authorities: Support local and regional authorities to drive circular economy initiatives.
- Targeted investment: Ensure sufficient EU funding is directed toward circular economy goals, focusing on prevention, reuse, and recycling.
- Safety and health: Prioritise clean manufacturing and non-toxic material cycles to protect human health and safety.
Jessika Roswall, confirmed as the EU Commissioner for the Circular Economy, emphasised her commitment to these goals during her European Parliament hearing. While her remarks on the Circular Economy Act left some questions unanswered, particularly on resource efficiency governance, she expressed optimism about the growing momentum behind circular initiatives and their potential to boost European competitiveness. Roswall also committed to swift action on chemical regulation, addressing the long-delayed REACH revision and tackling hazardous chemical exports. However, uncertainty remains over the exact timeline and scope of these measures.
Axel is a dedicated advocate for the circular economy, driving policy development and implementation since 2017. With a background in EU and international affairs, he has held leadership roles at various organisations, including a Producers Responsibility Organization as head of international and European affairs and a Foundation focused on circular economy policies related to plastic. Axel is the founder of Circulearth, an independent consultancy that offers expert advice on regulatory analysis, business strategy, and advocacy campaigns. Working with a variety of public and private organisations, Axel aims to expedite the transition to circular economy policies.
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