Industry Influence Threatens Global Treaty to Curb Plastic Pollution

Scientists and environmental advocates warn that petrochemical companies and oil-producing nations are undermining UN efforts to tackle plastic pollution. At recent treaty negotiations, industry lobbyists outnumbered scientists and some national delegations, securing insider access and shaping outcomes. Over 100 countries support a cap on plastic production, but petrostates like Saudi Arabia favor recycling strategies over limiting output.

Critics say the UN Environment Programme’s close ties to industry, a lack of transparency, and harassment of experts are weakening the treaty’s credibility. Experts stress that current plastic production is already unmanageable, and expanding it will only worsen global pollution.

Plastic manufacturing fuels fossil fuel demand and climate change, while microplastics and toxic additives now permeate ecosystems and human bodies, including organs and breast milk. With production expected to triple by 2060, the treaty's direction—whether it enforces production limits or prioritizes corporate recycling—could define the planet’s plastic future.

28-07-2025