Wondering what the status of this treaty is, and how much "teeth" it has.

"The most immediate bans or restrictions on single-use plastics, researchers say, should apply to products that are most likely to leak into the environment and cause harm and yet are relatively unnecessary. These include takeaway containers, #ChipBags, balloons, cotton swabs, disposable #ecigarettes and #TeaBags. (A number of environmental organizations including WWF have lists of products that the treaty should prioritize.)"

Finally, a solution to #plastic #pollution that’s not just recycling

Countries are negotiating a new global treaty to drastically reduce the plastic waste that has been poisoning the world.

by Benji Jones
Jun 7, 2023

"This treaty could be huge. Although it will take months of negotiating for any of the details to become clear, the agreement — set to be finalized by the end of 2024 — will require countries to do far more than just fix their recycling systems. Negotiators will discuss a menu of options including a cap on overall plastic production, bans on certain materials and products including many #SingleUsePlastics, and incentives to grow an industry around reusable items. This treaty could literally transform entire chunks of the global economy.

"As with any global deal, an ambitious agreement will face several roadblocks, some of which have already appeared. Certain countries, such as #SaudiArabia and the #US, for example, are pushing for voluntary terms that would allow them to continue investing in their #petrochemical #industries (plastic is a #petrochemical).

"Then again, the fact that global talks are happening at all is in itself a big deal and reveals a shift in the politics around waste. 'There’s a true willingness to tackle this problem,' said Erin Simon, vice president and head of plastic waste at the #WorldWildlifeFund, a large #environmental group. 'We’ve never seen so much progress.'

[...]

"Certain chemicals used in plastics are especially problematic and could be targeted by bans. Some #FlameRetardants, for example, are linked to #cancers and #endocrine disruption; they can also make plastics hard to recycle. A number of other additives and materials are similarly dangerous to humans or #ecosystems, or they make recycling difficult, such as polyvinyl chloride (#PVC) and various kinds of #PFAS (the so-called forever chemicals).

"The treaty may also ban or restrict a whole bunch of common, problematic products — namely, packaging and other #singleuse items, such as cups and cutlery."

Read more:
https://www.vox.com/down-to-earth/2023/6/7/23743640/plastic-pollution-un-treaty-oceans-waste?utm_source=pocket-newtab

#Crapitalism #BanPlastics
#WaterIsLife #OceansAreLife #BigOilAndGas