Biotic Joins the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty

Everything Biotic is, and what it stands for, stems from deep concern for our planet and for the future. Plastic has become ubiquitous in modern, everyday life. But the ease and convenience consumers experience comes at a steep cost. We produce about 400 million tons of plastic waste every year. Much of this ends up scattered in terrestrial and marine environments. An equivalent of two garbage trucks full of plastic are dumped into the ocean each minute. These facts baffle the mind, the enormity of the problem is as troubling as it is incomprehensible.

To address the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, 175 countries supported a resolution to negotiate an international, legally binding policy instrument to end plastic pollution at the fifth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.2) in March 2022. Since then, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution has held four meetings to deliver on their commitment. The fifth and final meeting will be held later this year in Korea, wherein the final text will be agreed upon ahead of a diplomatic conference next year in which the plan will be adopted. 

There is a need for urgent action, intervention, and systemic change in the plastic production and consumption models of the present. This moment presents a historic and monumental opportunity to end the plastic pollution crisis. To this end, Biotic fully supports a strong treaty to deliver on this goal. We have joined the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty to demonstrate our commitment and join over 230 organizations in support of a treaty that drives systemic change on plastic pollution. 

There is no time to waste; in a business as usual scenario, plastic production is projected to double or triple by 2050. Therefore, we cannot miss the opportunity to create a plastics treaty that is aggressive and includes supporting mechanisms for effective implementation. 

As such, Biotic advocates for the final text to include these critical components: 

• Reduction of virgin plastic production and use through a circular economy approach. We simply cannot solve the problem otherwise.
• Promotion of innovative materials in production and scaling up of reuse and refill systems
• Accountability measures that are legally binding and time-bound
• Provisions to hold polluting corporations and plastic producing countries accountable
• Remediation of existing plastic pollution
• Support of a just transition for livelihoods and communities across the plastics supply chain