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Briefing: What to expect as talks on global plastics treaty resume

With negotiations on a global plastic pollution treaty set to resume next month, the food sector is braced to see what the impact will be for industry and consumers alike.

At last month’s third UN Ocean Conference, France managed to corral 95 other countries into signing The Nice Wake-Up Call for an Ambitious Plastics Treaty. This attempt to inject momentum into the treaty process came ahead of the sixth round of negotiations for a global plastic pollution treaty, which are set to take place in August.

The global deal remains far from a fait accompli after “final” talks broke down last year – so as we enter the final few weeks before the final-final talks in Switzerland, what should food ingredients companies and the wider food sector look out for?

Put a lid on it

Talk of a cap on plastic production is likely to remain the headline-grabber of choice – not least because it is one of the main blockers to an agreement, given vested interests in maintaining the “status flow” of oil-based plastics. Expect more news on the links between plastic and climate – both in producing and mitigating emissions.

The opportunity here will be for supporters of reusable packaging to make their case but expect a lot of activity from non-plastic packaging sector as they promote their alternatives.

Content? Far from it

While reducing the amount of single-use plastic in production is contentious, incorporating more recycled polymers into the mix has widespread support. Big brands have managed to increase the levels of post-consumer recycled (PCR) content they use.

“PCR has shown consistent growth. Brand and retail signatories grew by two percentage points (from 12% in 2022 to 14% in 2023), driven by business commitments, significant investments in recycling facilities coming to fruition, and legislative changes in some geographies,” noted the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in its The Global Commitment: 2024 Progress Report, which counts the likes of Coca-Cola, Danone, Henkel, Mars, Nestlé, and PepsiCo among its signatories.

Food sector companies are lagging, though, with 10% on average compared to those in cosmetics which have collectively managed 31% PCR. The significant price premium on recycled content is not helping, with reports of major companies putting the brakes on any further progress as they struggle to source enough materials or justify the premium during a cost-of-living crisis.

Lack of regulation has also provided breathing space, with some international food corporates having watered down their voluntary targets on recycled plastic content. Expect a lot of attention on how voluntary agreements have failed to date.

Pick it up

Regulations on food contact materials are another major headache for food companies looking to integrate more recycled content into their packaging.

Expect there to be shots fired at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) relating to the use of recycled polypropylene (PP) in particular. Used for containers like pots, tubs, and trays, as well as a variety of non-food applications, PP has become one of the most prolific yet least recycled polymers.

“The plastics industry is actually harming itself by not creating a circular economy for food-grade PP, as it risks being overtaken by alternatives that actually have higher carbon footprints in the long run,” wrote plastics recycling expert Edward Kosior in a piece for Resource Recycling.

There are various challenges. For example, it is very difficult to accurately identify PP that has only been used for food. There are also complaints that the regulators are being a little over-cautious in the level of testing required to prove rPP (recycled PP) is safe to use in food contact packaging.

Chemical contamination

The safety of packaging will be a huge topic of debate at the treaty talks. Understanding of the impact the chemicals used in packaging have on human health and the wider environment is improving, but there is much to learn (including how chemicals flow and interact through plastic recycling loops).

The High Ambition Coalition (HAC), a collective of countries advocating for a robust treaty, will continue to seek the phase-out of harmful plastic products and chemicals of concern.

“[A] large majority of the participating nations want a treaty that acknowledges health considerations and the need for production constraints,” wrote Pete Myers, founder and chief scientist of Environmental Health Sciences, in a blog following the failed talks in South Korea last year.

Bottles half-full

There is optimism that a deal is possible – but also wide agreement that a bad deal remains a worse option than no deal.

Businesses also widely support new, consistent regulations. As part of the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, more than 280 global businesses, financial institutions, and NGOs have advocated for harmonised regulations – including bans on problematic and avoidable products and product design standards.

There is also a need for a globally harmonised approach for national extended producer responsibility schemes, noted Jodie Roussell, global public affairs lead (packaging and sustainability) at Nestlé and co-chair of the coalition.

These schemes would support countries in delivering on their national ambitions while ensuring a level playing field for businesses, she explained in a press statement in June that welcomed the Nice wake-up call.