UN Plastics Treaty: looking ahead to the next attempt

The renewed attempt to secure a legally binding UN Plastics Treaty (Geneva, 5–14 August 2025) was unsuccessful, but there are glimmers of hope. Including through our FPS, Belgium remains unwavering in its commitment to tackling plastic pollution and is looking ahead to the next attempt.

In 1950, the world produced 2 million tonnes of plastic. By 2022, that figure had surged to 475 million tonnes. Without decisive intervention, production is on course to triple again by 2030.

Brains and placentas

That creates a huge problem, as vast amounts of plastic end up in nature. Every day, the equivalent of 2,000 lorryloads of plastic is dumped into oceans, rivers and lakes. But the land is heavily polluted too.

That means plastic waste is quite literally everywhere. It has already been found by scientists in freshly fallen snow in Antarctica and in the deep sea. Since the 1970s, it has been commonly found in the stomachs of fish. Our own bodies are not spared either: there is plastic even in our brains and placentas. The impact of plastic (waste) is nothing short of staggering and poses an undeniable threat to both our environment and our health.

Hardened stance

That is why Belgium – together with the EU – is pushing for a highly ambitious UN treaty on plastics. Hopes were high in 2022 when the UN decided to draw up a legally binding treaty covering the entire life cycle of plastics: design, production and recycling, as well as management, reduction and prevention of waste. For it is only by curbing production to sustainable levels that we can truly counter pollution.

Unfortunately, a number of mainly oil-producing countries have since hardened their stance. They refuse to address production levels and want to focus solely on waste management and recycling. As a result, the UN conference in Busan last year failed to reach an agreement.

Watered-down text

With renewed optimism, the Belgian delegation – including two staff members from our FPS – travelled to Geneva in August 2025 for another attempt. Yet once again, efforts to finalise a treaty acceptable to all parties fell short. Our two participating staff members shared their insights into what really went on behind the scenes.

Following negotiations across four contact groups — upstream life cycle (production, hazardous substances…), downstream life cycle (pollution prevention…), financial resources… — the chair presented a heavily watered-down text on 13 August that was unacceptable to the more ambitious countries.

At the very last moment, he appeared with a new, slightly more ambitious text, but by then there was no time left to continue negotiations. In the end, it looks like there will be another attempt.

Ambitious countries

So, was the renewed attempt in Geneva a wasted effort? Not entirely. The main progress took place behind the scenes. For instance, the somewhat heterogeneous group of over 100 ambitious countries grew closer together. In addition to the EU, this group includes Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, a large number of African and Latin American countries, and the Small Island States.

The ambitious group has made considerable concessions in order to reach a compromise. That process has led to the establishment of very clear red lines. For the ambitious countries, a treaty must at the very least:

• address the full life cycle of plastics, including design and production;
• tackle unsustainable consumption and production of plastics;
• include global measures and criteria for plastic products and chemicals in plastics;
• ensure the treaty can evolve over time through amendments subject to voting, if consensus cannot be reached;
• provide sufficient funding and resources to realise its ambition.

China

Furthermore, China has clearly distanced itself from the oil-producing countries, which offers hope. After all, the powerful Asian country accounts for 40% of global plastic production. This means that a plastics agreement without China is pointless. We must have the largest plastic producer on board—otherwise, it will never be possible to significantly reduce plastic pollution.

In Geneva, China also acknowledged that plastic pollution is linked to the entire value chain — including production — and that it is connected to climate disruption and biodiversity loss. China realises that this must become a significant agreement, one that will shape the future of an industry that plays a major role in its economy. It has every interest in ensuring that clear standards are established; otherwise, its plastic products will become unsellable.

Patience

So the situation is not yet hopelessly deadlocked. Moreover, it is an extremely broad and complex issue that cannot be resolved overnight. That is why Belgium remains determined to keep working towards the most ambitious compromise possible.

As Minister of Climate and Ecological Transition Jean-Luc Crucke, who oversees the plastics negotiations, put it: “Diplomacy always requires patience. We must continue working with the countries that are willing to reach an agreement, so that we can persuade the oil-producing countries to take on this challenge as well.”

Our determination is, of course, also driven by the enormous impact of plastic on our environment and our health. “The fight against plastic pollution is no longer a choice, but a necessity,” Crucke added. “History will remember those who chose to move forward so their children may still have the chance to fish.”

Minimal treaty

Belgium therefore continues to support a treaty within the UN framework that can be accepted by all parties. One possible way forward is to start with a minimal treaty—a skeletal or core agreement—that can later be expanded through amendments, such as those concerning the regulation of toxic chemicals.

We do not favour a ‘plurilateral’ treaty involving only a limited number of countries, initially outside the UN, as is the case with CITES, the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora. Plastic is far too global an issue: its spread through the oceans knows no borders. A treaty without the major plastic-producing countries would be fighting a losing battle.

It now remains to be seen when the next attempt will take place, possibly in April, September or December 2026. In the meantime, the Belgian delegation — including our two staff members — will not be sitting idle. They will continue forging a strong and ambitious coalition of countries capable of winning over others.

By the way, you do not need to wait for that to start putting limits on plastic pollution yourself. Read our 14 tips to prevent plastic pollution.