EASAC report released: Towards an International Plastics Treaty

EASAC, the European Academies’ Science Advisory Council, has released a report entitled "Towards and International Plastics Treaty". 

The report examines current and projected use of plastics internationally and makes the following recommendations:

10 Science-based recommendations for an International Plastics Treaty

• Set a target for reducing plastic primary production with the aim of reducing the overall need, demand and use of packaging
• Ensure all plastics are reusable, recyclable or compostable to allow circularity
• Internalise all external (environmental, social, health) costs into the basic market price for virgin resin
• Make product designers and retailers responsible for minimizing single use for on-the-go items and make the responsible path the cheapest option to change consumer behaviour
• Ban deliberate addition of microplastics to products
• Commit to increasing the safety, durability, reusability, refillability, repairability, and refurbishing capability of plastic products
• Incentivise companies to collaborate in reverse supply chains
• Request life-cycle-analysis and proper biodegradability standards for resins claiming biodegradability
• Extend producer responsibility to all costs related to waste management
• Allow only exports from OECD to those non-OECD countries that consent

Please see the attached report for full details or visit the EASAC website