--- title: "Advancing the Global Plastics Treaty: From Busan to Geneva" id: "7575" type: "post" slug: "advancing-the-global-plastics-treaty-from-busan-to-geneva" published_at: "2025-07-30T17:55:21+00:00" modified_at: "2025-07-30T17:55:21+00:00" url: "https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2025/07/advancing-the-global-plastics-treaty-from-busan-to-geneva-007575/" markdown_url: "https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2025/07/advancing-the-global-plastics-treaty-from-busan-to-geneva-007575.md" excerpt: "The INC-5 summit in Busan advanced the Global Plastics Treaty; Geneva 2025 aims to resolve key issues like production limits and funding." taxonomy_category: - "Business" - "Industry" - "Legal Analysis" - "People" - "Regulation" - "Results" - "Strategy" - "Sustainability" - "Trending" taxonomy_post_tag: - "biodiversity" - "eliminate plastic pollution" - "Ellen MacArthur Foundation" - "Geneva 2025" - "human health" - "INC-5" - "Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5)" - "Ocean Conservancy" - "Plastic Production Limits" - "Risky Chemicals in Plastics" --- [Home](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/) » [News](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/news/) » [Trending](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/c/trending/) » [Sustainability](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/c/trending/sustainability/) » Advancing the Global Plastics Treaty: From Busan to Geneva # Advancing the Global Plastics Treaty: From Busan to Geneva Fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee. Courtesy of UNEP.org### The INC-5 summit in Busan advanced the Global Plastics Treaty; Geneva 2025 aims to resolve key issues like production limits and funding. **Read also:** [SPE – A Key Observer in the Global Plastics Treaty.](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2024/11/spe-a-key-observer-in-the-global-plastics-treaty-007474/) ## Core Debate: Pollution Control vs Production Caps A key flashpoint in Busan was whether the treaty should limit plastic production or focus solely on pollution management. Over 100 countries, including the EU and Latin American nations, backed production caps. In contrast, oil-producing nations such as Saudi Arabia and Russia vocally opposed limits, pushing for a pollution-only approach. As Saudi’s delegate noted, “If you address plastic pollution, there should be no problem with producing plastics, because the problem is the pollution, not the plastics themselves.” ## Chair’s Text: Structure for Next Steps INC‑5 concluded with a Chair’s Text that establishes: - A 2040 plastic-pollution elimination goal - A complete lifecycle approach, including production, design, and end-of-life - Principles like “polluter pays,” scientific decision-making, equity, and support for vulnerable regions. ## Continued Friction Several contentious issues remain: - **Production Caps**: The dispute highlighted global ambition versus fossil-fuel interests. Over 85 countries protested the impasse by signing a high-ambition declaration. - **Hazardous Chemicals**: NGOs pushed for stricter additive controls to enhance recyclability and health safety. - **Funding & Tech Transfer**: Developing nations stressed the need for funding and equitable technology sharing. ## Voices From Busan > Nicholas Mallos of Ocean Conservancy warned, “With over a garbage truck’s worth of plastics entering the ocean each minute, every second counts” > > Rob Opsomer of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation added, “Design is indeed critical to addressing plastic pollution…we have a vital opportunity to accelerate the adoption of solutions that can work at scale” ## What Comes Next: INC‑5.2 in Geneva INC‑5.2 will take place from **August 5–14, 2025** in Geneva, preceded by regional consultations. Preparatory meetings in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and elsewhere are building momentum. Observers like GAIA emphasize that treaty success requires centering **Global South voices**: > “At INC‑5.2, it is essential that countries listen to observers who have first-hand knowledge…” ## Final Analysis Busan established essential ground: a robust lifecycle framework, defined goals, and an ambitious Chair’s Text. Yet the core division—policies vs production limits—remains unresolved. As John Duncan of the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty remarked, it’s “frustrating to watch the slow pace of multilateralism”. Geneva holds the key: will negotiators close the divide and craft a treaty strong enough to match the scale of the crisis? The next round must reconcile economic interests and environmental urgency—because the world cannot wait. UNEP Member States. Courtesy of UNEP.org **Read the full document:** [The Compilation of the Draft Text of the international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution](https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/45858/Compilation_Text.pdf) By **[Mariana Holguin](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/author/marianacholguin/)** | July 30, 2025 ##### [Mariana Holguin](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/author/marianacholguin/) [+ postsBio ⮌](#) ### Other posts you could read [April 10, 2026In Vivo Plastic Waste Upcycling](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/in-vivo-plastic-waste-upcycling-010935/) [April 23, 2026Conductive Polymers Revolutionize Fuel Cell Plates](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/conductive-polymers-revolutionize-fuel-cell-plates-011057/) [April 6, 2026The Debut of the SPE IMPACT Awards](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/the-debut-of-the-spe-impact-awards-011102/) [April 16, 2026Artificial Rattan: Furniture from PolyAl](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/artificial-rattan-furniture-from-polyal-011037/) [April 24, 2026Emerging Markets for Polyolefins in the Solar Industry](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/emerging-markets-for-polyolefins-in-the-solar-industry-011128/) [April 20, 2026Real-Time Melt Monitoring in Extrusion and Injection Molding](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/real-time-melt-monitoring-in-extrusion-and-injection-molding-011167/) [April 6, 2026Thermotropic LCEs Power Soft Robotics](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/thermotropic-lces-power-soft-robotics-010984/) [April 30, 2026Upcycling Polyolefins into Jet Fuel Components](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/upcycling-polyolefins-into-jet-fuel-components-011138/) ## Share Your Thoughts [Cancel reply](/2025/07/advancing-the-global-plastics-treaty-from-busan-to-geneva-007575/#respond) - [https://twitter.com/share?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=7575&text=Advancing+the+Global+Plastics+Treaty%3A+From+Busan+to+Geneva&via=Plastics_Mag](https://twitter.com/share?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=7575&text=Advancing+the+Global+Plastics+Treaty%3A+From+Busan+to+Geneva&via=Plastics_Mag) - [https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=7575&t=Advancing+the+Global+Plastics+Treaty%3A+From+Busan+to+Geneva](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=7575&t=Advancing+the+Global+Plastics+Treaty%3A+From+Busan+to+Geneva) - [https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=7575&title=Advancing%20the%20Global%20Plastics%20Treaty:%20From%20Busan%20to%20Geneva&summary=The+INC-5+summit+in+Busan+advanced+the+Global+Plastics+Treaty%3B+Geneva+2025+aims+to+resolve+key+issues+like+production+limits+and+funding.&source=Plastics+Engineering](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=7575&title=Advancing%20the%20Global%20Plastics%20Treaty:%20From%20Busan%20to%20Geneva&summary=The+INC-5+summit+in+Busan+advanced+the+Global+Plastics+Treaty%3B+Geneva+2025+aims+to+resolve+key+issues+like+production+limits+and+funding.&source=Plastics+Engineering) - [https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=7575&title=Advancing+the+Global+Plastics+Treaty%3A+From+Busan+to+Geneva](https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=7575&title=Advancing+the+Global+Plastics+Treaty%3A+From+Busan+to+Geneva) - [/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#58672b2d3a323d3b2c650834392b2c313b2b781d363f31363d3d2a31363f787578193c2e39363b31363f782c303d781f34373a3934780834392b2c313b2b780c2a3d392c2162781e2a3735781a2d2b3936782c37781f3d363d2e397e3a373c2165302c2c282b6277772f2f2f762834392b2c313b2b3d363f31363d3d2a31363f76372a3f776728656f6d6f6d](/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#58672b2d3a323d3b2c650834392b2c313b2b781d363f31363d3d2a31363f787578193c2e39363b31363f782c303d781f34373a3934780834392b2c313b2b780c2a3d392c2162781e2a3735781a2d2b3936782c37781f3d363d2e397e3a373c2165302c2c282b6277772f2f2f762834392b2c313b2b3d363f31363d3d2a31363f76372a3f776728656f6d6f6d) - [#comments](#comments)