Later this year, world officials will meet to discuss a treaty to address the plastic waste crisis
PepsiCo, Coca-Cola and other international brands called for a global agreement to reduce pollution and plastic production.
A conference of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.2), will see world officials meet to discuss a treaty that would address the plastic waste crisis, which is threatening oceans and wildlife.
It is unclear whether any agreement will focus on waste management, recycling, or take harder steps like curbing the production of plastics. This would likely draw resistance from the petroleum industry and other major plastic-producing countries.
Monday’s joint statement had more than 70 signatories, including consumer goods companies such as Unilever and Nestle, as well as retailers Walmart and French bank BNP paribas.
The statement stated, “We are at a critical moment in time to create an ambitious UN Treaty,” and noted that any deal should “reduce the use of virgin plastics.”
“UNEA 5.2 represents the decisive, most auspicious time to turn the tide against the global plastic pollution crisis. It is too important to not miss it.
An investigation by ReutersThe problem was not being solved by new recycling technologies, as evidenced by the results of last year.
If the current trend continues, plastic production will double in 20 years.
According to a 2020 study done by The Pew Charitable Trusts NGO (The Pew Charitable Trusts NGO), efforts to reduce plastic waste won’t stop plastic pollution from skyrocketing without constraints on production.
