A new report from the Nordic Council of Ministers focuses on addressing problematic, unnecessary and avoidable plastic products at the global level, in line with the objectives of the upcoming international plastics instrument set out by UN Environment Assembly resolution 5/14. The report notes that over 140 countries have enacted bans or restrictions on specific plastic products, highlighting the need for global criteria to manage not just single-use plastics, but also a wider range of plastic products.

The report is created to support the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) in shaping the plastics instrument. It presents possible criteria for determining plastic products into three distinct classifications: problematic, unnecessary, and avoidable. These classifications are essential towards developing control strategies specific to each. The report’s ultimate aim is to phase out problematic, unnecessary, and avoidable plastic products. The authors suggest options for how this can be achieved under the future global instrument to end plastic pollution by promoting alternate practices or non-plastic substitutes, and by redesigning essential plastic products for safety and sustainability. These core strategies should be based on criteria that are focused on product function, end-use and essentiality.

Launching the new report, this event aims to provide a platform for stakeholders to explore and discuss possibilities for addressing problematic, unnecessary and avoidable plastic products while drawing on insights from the publication.

Register here.

Speakers:

Erlend DRAGET
Lead Negotiator / Focal Point, INC Plastic Pollution, Ministry of Climate and the Environment, Norway

Karen RAUBENHEIMER
Lecturer at Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS), University of Wollongong

Niko URHO
Independent Consultant

Llorenç MILÀ I CANALS
Head, Life Cycle Initiative Secretariat, UNEP

Eirik LINDEBJERG
Global Plastic Policy Lead, WWF