GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – August 6, 2025 – The United States delegation has taken a stance against proposed global limits on plastic production and the use of certain chemical additives during ongoing United Nations treaty negotiations for a plastics pact. This position places the U.S. in opposition to over 100 nations advocating for stricter measures to curb plastic pollution at its source. The U.S. administration favors downstream solutions, such as improved recycling and product design, over upstream measures like production caps, a strategy that aligns with the interests of major petrochemical producers lobbying against manufacturing restrictions. Environmental advocates warn that this U.S. stance could significantly undermine the treaty's effectiveness in addressing the root causes of plastic pollution.
The European Union and island nations continue to push for comprehensive actions to combat the escalating crisis, with the EU championing a treaty addressing the entire lifecycle of plastics as part of a 70-country High Ambition Coalition aiming to end plastic pollution by 2040. Global plastic production reached an estimated 400 million tons annually in 2021, with recycling rates remaining low at approximately 9%. The petrochemical industry, heavily reliant on fossil fuels, is actively lobbying against production limits, with reports indicating lobbyists from major plastics and fossil fuel companies significantly outnumbering scientists and some national delegations. Companies like Dow, ExxonMobil, and Shell have reportedly expanded plastic production capacity since negotiations began. Environmental groups and many nations argue that limiting plastic production, projected to triple by 2060 if current trends persist, is crucial to effectively combat pollution and its associated impacts. The outcome of these Geneva negotiations is considered pivotal for the world's ability to address pervasive plastic pollution.