The global treaty may lie in tatters, but the UK must continue to lead the fight against plastic pollution
5 August 2025: 'The Thinker's Burden' art installation by Benjamin Von Wong outside the United Nations Geneva headquarters | Image by: Orjan Ellingvag / Alamy
4 min read
The outcome is disappointing for UK industry and policymakers, but we can maintain our momentum by enacting ambitious policies at home, collaborating internationally, and pushing for innovation
The collapse of the UN Global Plastics Treaty negotiations in Geneva last week marked a significant setback in the fight against plastic pollution. As a former environment minister responsible for previous negotiations on behalf of the UK, it is deeply concerning to see the latest efforts to secure an ambitious treaty ending in tatters. Despite extended talks – and over 80 countries championing a cap on plastic production to reduce pollution by 2040 – negotiations failed, leaving the path forward uncertain and the implications for the UK’s environmental leadership and industry profound.
The treaty would have been the world’s first legally binding international agreement covering the entire plastic lifecycle – from production to disposal. It sought to cap production, phase out harmful chemicals, support sustainable design and promote circular economies, as well as standardising global extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies.
However the talks broke down due to irreconcilable differences largely driven by a group of oil-producing nations – including Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the USA – who blocked consensus, pushing instead for a weaker agreement focused narrowly on waste management. The consensus-based structure of the negotiations allowed any member to veto progress – and this power was repeatedly exercised to stall meaningful action.
The outcome is disappointing for UK industry and policymakers. Its failure undermines UK businesses investing in sustainable materials and circular solutions.
The crisis is urgent: global plastic waste has reached 360 million metric tons a year and is expected to double by 2040, with half destined for landfill. The UK produces over five million tonnes of plastic annually, with just nine per cent effectively recycled. And worryingly the plastics industry could consume 20 per cent of global oil and contribute 15 per cent of carbon emissions by 2050. Health risks from plastics are mounting, with over 16,000 chemicals used in plastics, limited safety data on the majority, and microplastics now found in every environmental matrix – air, water, and soil.
The outcome is disappointing for UK industry and policymakers. Its failure undermines UK businesses investing in sustainable materials and circular solutions
A recent report in The Lancet medical journal stated that “plastics are a grave, growing, and under-recognised danger to human and planetary health”. Writing ahead of the Geneva summit, the University of Edinburgh’s Cat Acheson, Alice Street and Rob Ralston, warned: “Plastics, the evidence shows, are a threat to human health – from womb to grave. They’re linked to miscarriages, birth defects, heart disease and cancer.”
But despite this breakdown in talks, the UK retains momentum in tackling plastic pollution. As waste and recycling minister, I oversaw initiatives like the 5p carrier bag charge (leading to a 97 per cent drop in their use), bans on single-use plastics, and legislation to ban microplastics in cosmetics and wet wipes. The new EPR scheme, starting with packaging, aims to reduce plastic entering the market. These policies demonstrate the UK’s leadership but also highlight the need for global coordination to avoid undermining progress.
Looking ahead, several steps are critical:
• Strengthen domestic legislation: the UK must set stricter targets for plastic production, chemical safety, and material reuse.
• Support innovation: work closely with industry to accelerate development of non-toxic, reusable, and recyclable materials.
• Build coalitions: form alliances with like-minded nations to implement treaty-level reforms at national and regional scales – creating a “coalition of the willing”.
• Enforce responsibility: hold polluters accountable with mandatory EPR schemes and require transparency in supply chains.
• Empower communities: promote local solutions and education to reduce plastic pollution from the ground up.
The failure of the plastics treaty should not halt our progress. The UK must continue to lead – by enacting ambitious policies at home, collaborating internationally, and pushing for innovation. Only through determined action can we deliver meaningful, lasting change for the environment and future generations.
Rebecca Pow is a former environment minister, and is co-chair of the Environmental Industries Association (EIA) climate change group
