Global Plastic Pollution

The UNEP’s sixth attempt since 2022 to create a global plastics treaty in Geneva failed, as countries stayed divided over responsibility, fairness, enforcement, production limits, and single-use plastics.

Background

• UNEA Initiative (2022): In 2022, the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) initiated a process to develop a legally binding treaty on plastics pollution by the end of 2024. 
• Deadlock in Final Round: The fifth and final round of discussion on a legally binding treaty for curbing plastic pollution ended without any agreement. 

Key Outcomes of UNEP’s Recent Negotiations

• The Sixth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-6) session under the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), held in August 2025 at Busan, South Korea, marked a critical milestone in drafting a legally binding Global Plastic Pollution Treaty.
• Areas of Convergence:
  • Lifecycle Approach: Broad consensus on tackling plastic pollution across its entire lifecycle—production, consumption, and disposal.
  • Support for Global South: Recognition of the need for financial and technical assistance to developing nations.
  • Accountability Systems: Agreement to strengthen reporting, monitoring, and compliance mechanisms for transparency.
• Points of Contention:
  • Production Caps vs. Waste Management: Developed countries pushed for capping plastic production, while developing nations preferred focusing on waste management improvements.
  • CBDR Debate: Sharp divide over “Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR)” developing nations argued for flexibility and support, while developed nations pressed for uniform obligations.
  • Private Sector Role: Contentious debate on whether voluntary commitments suffice or binding rules must be imposed on corporations.
  • Divisions Among Countries: The main points of contention have been whether the treaty should tackle plastic production at source, and place limits on the amount of new plastic churned out.
    • Oil-producing and petrochemical-exporting nations (including the US) blocked more ambitious proposals.
    • The EU and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) demanded caps on virgin plastic production.
• Outcome: Though no final treaty text was adopted, INC-6 narrowed the options for INC-7 (early 2026). The ambition of finalizing a treaty by end-2026 remains alive, with sharper clarity on areas of agreement and conflict.
• India’s Stand / Position:
  • Equity and CBDR: India strongly emphasized equity and CBDR, highlighting that plastic use in developing countries is linked to developmental needs, livelihoods, and affordability.
  • Against Blanket Caps: India opposed blanket production caps, preferring context-specific national actions.
  • Key Demands:
    • Technology transfer and climate finance-like mechanisms for plastic alternatives.
    • Formal recognition of the informal recycling sector.
    • Phased approach to reducing single-use plastics, balancing sustainability with economic realities.

About Plastic Pollution Crisis

• Plastic Pollution refers to the accumulation of plastic waste in the environment, harming ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. It includes single-use plastics, microplastics, and non-biodegradable materials that persist for centuries.
• Types of Plastic Waste:
  • Microplastics (< 5 mm):  Tiny plastic particles less than 5 mm in size.
    • Sources: 
      • Primary: Microbeads in cosmetics, industrial scrubbers, synthetic microfibers from textiles, virgin resin pellets.
      • Secondary: Breakdown of larger plastics due to sunlight, abrasion, or improper disposal.
    • Concern: Invisible but highly hazardous; enter soil, rivers, oceans, and human food chain.
  • Macroplastics (> 5 mm): Large plastic debris visible to the naked eye.
    • Examples: Plastic bottles, fishing nets, food containers, packaging materials, discarded household plastics.
    • Concern: Cause entanglement, ingestion hazards for marine/terrestrial animals; break down into microplastics over time.
  • Single-Use Plastics (SUPs): Disposable plastics designed for one-time use before disposal/recycling.
    • Examples: Plastic bags, straws, cutlery, plates, water bottles, food packaging, coffee stirrers.

Scale of Plastic Pollution Globally

• Annual Plastic Production: The world produces over 430 million tonnes (MT) of plastic annually, with volumes projected to double by 2060 if current trends continue.
• Short-Lived Products: Around two-thirds of global plastic production is short-lived, largely in packaging and disposable goods, which turn into waste almost immediately.
• Landfill and Mismanagement: Nearly 46% of plastic waste ends up in landfills, while 22% is mismanaged, leading to litter and environmental leakage.
• Link with Fossil Fuels: Plastics are primarily derived from fossilised crude oil and natural gas, embedding the sector within the broader fossil fuel economy.
• Contribution to Climate Change: In 2019, plastic production and waste generated 1.8 billion metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, about 3.4% of global total emissions.
• Future Emissions Risk: By 2040, plastics are expected to account for nearly 20% of global oil consumption, exacerbating the climate crisis.
• Marine Pollution: An estimated 11 million tonnes of plastic enters oceans annually, disrupting marine ecosystems, food chains, and human health through microplastics.

India’s Plastic Footprint

• India as Top Polluter: India has become the world’s largest plastic polluter (Study published in Nature).
  • Other Polluters: Nigeria (3.5 Mt), Indonesia (3.4 Mt), China (ranked fourth due to improved waste management).
• Annual Plastic Waste Generation: India generates around 3.4 million tonnes (MT) of plastic waste annually, a significant contributor among developing economies.
• Recycling Rate: Only about 30% of this waste is recycled, with the majority either landfilled, burnt, or mismanaged.
• Rising Consumption: India’s plastic consumption has been growing rapidly, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.7%, rising from 14 MT in 2016–17 to over 20 MT in 2019–20.

Multi-dimensional Impacts of Plastic Pollution

• Environmental Impacts
  • Marine Ecosystems: Plastic ingestion and entanglement threaten over 800 species, including turtles and seabirds. If unchecked, plastics may outweigh fish in oceans by 2050.
  • Terrestrial Ecosystems: Microplastics reduce soil fertility and harm livestock and terrestrial wildlife.
  • Climate Change: Plastics are fossil-fuel derivatives; their production and incineration emit greenhouse gases, undermining climate targets.
• Human Health Impacts
  • Chemical Leaching: Plastics release harmful chemicals such as Bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalates, linked to hormonal disruption, cancer, and developmental disorders.
  • Microplastic Ingestion: Recent studies show microplastics in human blood, placenta, and lungs, with long-term consequences still unknown.
• Economic Impacts
  • Marine Economy Losses: Annual economic loss from marine plastic pollution runs into billions of dollars, disrupting fisheries, coastal tourism, and global shipping industries.
  • Rising Waste Management Burden: Countries incur mounting costs in collection, treatment, and disposal of plastic waste, while valuable materials worth billions are lost to landfills and open environments.

Key Challenges in Plastic Waste Management

• Omnipresence: Plastic has been detected in Arctic snow, Mount Everest, and Mariana Trench sediments, demonstrating the truly transboundary nature of the problem.
• Lifecycle Emissions: Plastic emissions occur not only during disposal but across the production-to-consumption cycle.
• Mismanaged Plastic Waste: Open dumping leads to transport via waterways, winds, tides, creating vast trash zones like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
• Spurious Biodegradable Plastics: Absence of robust certification allows fake biodegradable/compostable plastics in the market.
• E-Commerce and Food Delivery Packaging: Urban consumption via online retail and food apps has spiked single-use plastic waste.
• Microplastics Crisis: Plastics travel long distances, settle in seabeds, and even enter the atmosphere through clouds and snowfall, making them near impossible to filter.
• Marine Litter: Accounts for 60–80% of marine waste, threatening ecosystems.
• Terrestrial Plastic: 80% of plastic waste comes from land-based sources; only 20% is ocean-based (fishing nets, ropes, gear).
• Weak Implementation & Monitoring: Despite PWM Rules 2016 and 2018 amendments, segregation and enforcement remain poor across local bodies.
• Role of Informal Sector: Nearly 70% of India’s plastic recycling is handled by the informal sector, often under hazardous and unregulated conditions, raising issues of livelihood and safety.

India’s Initiative to curb Plastic Pollution 

• Plastic Waste Management: Building Regulatory Foundations:
  • 2009 – Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules (First Version): Laid guidelines on collection and disposal of plastic waste.
  • 2011 – PWM Rules Revised: Strengthened producer responsibility in managing waste.
  • 2014 – Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM): Encouraged segregation at source, scientific disposal, and structured collection systems.
  • 2016 – PWM Rules (Major Overhaul): Institutionalized Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), mandated segregation, and promoted recycling and reuse.
  • 2018 – Amendments to PWM Rules: Tightened EPR obligations and restricted multi-layered plastics.
  • 2021 – India Plastics Pact (CII–WWF): Corporate commitment to achieve 100% recyclable/compostable packaging by 2030.
  • 2021 – Un-Plastic Collective (WWF, UNEP, CII): A collaborative corporate platform to reduce plastic footprint.
• Ban Measures: Targeting Single-Use Plastics (SUPs):
  • 2019 – National Ban Announcement: Phased approach to eliminate single-use plastics.
  • 2022 – Nationwide Ban on SUPs: Prohibition on plastic cutlery, earbuds, polystyrene items, straws, and similar disposables.
• Technology & R&D Push:
  • 2022–23 – CSIR & TDB Projects: Conversion of plastic to fuel, tiles, hydrogen, green plasticizers; support to APChemi’s pyrolysis oil.
  • 2022 – Plastic Parks Scheme: Approved 10 parks with 50% project funding (max ₹40 crore).
  • 2023 – Centres of Excellence: 18 research centres, ₹345 crore R&D allocation for new recycling technologies.
• Ground-Level Innovations & Awareness:
  • 2021 onwards – Plastic Roads: Over 33,700 km constructed using plastic-bitumen mix.
  • 2022 – Dharavi Plastic Weaving & Pune Ecobricks: Local community-driven recycling solutions.
  • 2022–23 – Creative Awareness Projects: Single-Use Plastic Deathbed (Rishikesh), Marine Cemetery (Kozhikode).
• Recent Initiatives (2024–25):
  • 2024 – Mission LiFE Campaigns: One Nation, One Mission: End Plastic Pollution.
  • 2024 – State/City Innovations:
    • Vadodara: Cloth bag vending machines
    • Mathura: Plastic-Free Braj campaign
    • Madurai: AI-powered waste monitoring
  • 2025 – National Plastic Pollution Reduction Campaign: Targeting tiger reserves, govt offices, and youth engagement.
  • June 2025 – National Plastic Waste Reporting Portal & Dashboard: Strengthened EPR transparency and tracking.

Global Initiatives to Tackle Plastic Pollution

• Early Global Environmental Governance:
  • 1989 – Basel Convention on Hazardous Wastes: Controlled cross-border movement of hazardous waste.
  • 2001 – Stockholm Convention: Addressed persistent organic pollutants (POPs) including plastics.
• Marine Litter Focus (2000s–2010s):
  • 2012 – Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML, UNEP): Multistakeholder platform for knowledge & cooperation.
  • 2017 – UNEA-3 Marine Litter & Microplastics Resolution: First UN resolution on marine plastic pollution.
  • 2019 – Basel Convention Plastic Amendments: Plastic waste trade brought under Prior Informed Consent (PIC).
• Regional Responses:
  • 2021 – EU Single-Use Plastics Directive: Banned plastic cutlery, straws, polystyrene, boosted recycling targets.
  • 2021 – ASEAN Regional Action Plan (2021–25): Targeted 75% marine plastic debris reduction by 2025.
• Recent Global & UN-Led Actions:
• • 2022 – UNEA Resolution 5/14: Mandated negotiation of a global legally binding plastic treaty by 2024.
  • 2022 – New Plastics Economy Global Commitment (Ellen MacArthur Foundation + UNEP): Engaged corporations to cut virgin plastic.
  • 2023 – GoLitter Partnerships Project (EU-funded): Supported circular solutions in developing countries.
  • 2023–24 – Closing the Loop (UNESCAP): Assisted Asian cities with circular policies.
  • 2025 – INC-5 Busan (South Korea): Sixth attempt at treaty negotiations, differences remained unresolved.

Way Forward

• Global Scale:
  • Ambitious Treaty Design: Treaty negotiations must be revived with greater ambition by including production caps, regulation of hazardous chemicals, and establishing dedicated funding mechanisms for developing nations.
  • Bridging North–South Divide: The global gap must be narrowed through inclusive diplomacy that emphasizes technology transfer, financial support, and equitable developmental pathways.
  • Strengthening Global Alliances: Platforms such as the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution and the UNEP-led Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) must be reinforced to deliver a legally binding treaty by 2025–26.
• National Strategy:
  • Scaling Proven Models: Initiatives like Recykal (tech-enabled recycling), Without (multi-layer plastic recycling), and plastic-modified roads should be expanded nationwide for wider impact.
  • Upgrading Waste Infrastructure: Waste management systems need strengthening through segregation at source, expanded Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), and reverse logistics networks.
  • Integrating Informal Sector: Nearly 1.5 million waste pickers should be integrated into formal systems via social security, digital payments, and cooperative models.
  • Strict EPR Enforcement: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) must be rigorously enforced, alongside financial incentives for circular economy business models.
  • Promoting R&D and Innovation: Research and Development (R&D) in biodegradable alternatives, compostable packaging, and AI-driven waste tracking systems should be mainstreamed.
• Policy and Community Integration:
  • Strengthening Compliance: Monitoring and compliance mechanisms for the ban on single-use plastics should include penalties for violators and incentives for compliant businesses.
  • Encouraging Collaborative Innovation: Partnerships with start-ups, NGOs, and academic institutions should develop scalable local solutions such as eco-bricks, cloth-bag vending machines, and plastic-for-coupon schemes.
  • Fostering Green Entrepreneurship: Waste-to-wealth start-ups should be supported through credit access, incubation programmes, and government procurement preferences.
  • Mobilising Youth and Communities: Nationwide plastic literacy campaigns, eco-hackathons, and school-level zero-plastic drives should engage youth and promote long-term behavioural change.
• Focus on 3Rs:
  • Reduce: The first step is to cut down on single-use plastics by imposing a tax on plastic bags, restricting plastic manufacturing, and promoting eco-friendly alternatives like biodegradable materials.
    • Example: Project REPLAN (REducing PLastic in Nature) by KVIC offers sustainable substitutes to plastic carry bags, such as handmade paper and cloth-based products.
  • Reuse: Promoting the reuse of plastic products reduces dependency on new production, acting as a natural restraint on overuse of virgin plastics.
    • Example: Innovations like plastic roads and plastic-to-fuel conversion enhance reuse efficiency.
  • Recycle: Recycling plastics ensures waste is reprocessed into useful products, offering multiple benefits:
    • • Economic gains through value addition.
      • Employment generation in the circular economy.
      • Conservation of fossil fuel reserves.
      • Reduced landfill burden and environmental stress.
      • Lower energy consumption compared to virgin plastic production.
    • Example: India’s Recykal digital platform strengthens the recycling value chain by linking producers, recyclers, and waste-pickers.

Conclusion

Effective plastic waste management upholds constitutional environmental values, safeguards intergenerational equity, and strengthens India’s commitment to SDG 12 (sustainable consumption) and SDG 14 (healthy oceans) for long-term resilience.

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