Australia Backs Global Treaty to End Plastic Pollution, Targeting Packaging Importers
Australia has now joined 96 countries in issuing a global “wake‑up call” to end plastic pollution, specifically scrutinizing packaging importers as part of treaty negotiations due in August. This strategic move signals a shift toward enforcing circularity standards for imported plastics and boosting local recycling capacity.
In short:
Australia has joined 96 other nations to push for a binding global treaty to end plastic pollution.
The federal government has signaled it is eyeing the regulation of plastic importers.
What’s next?
A final round of negotiations on a plastics treaty is due in August.
Imported plastic, which makes up most of Australia’s plastic waste, is being scrutinised as the nation joins a global “wake-up call” to end plastic pollution.
Australia strictly regulates the export of waste products to other nations for recycling. Still, the federal government has signalled that it is now examining plastic imports to Australia used by major brands for their products and packaging.
Environment Minister Murray Watt confirmed Australia had joined 96 other nations at the United Nations Ocean Conference in France to issue the “Nice wake-up call” for an ambitious plastics treaty that would seek to end plastic pollution and protect humans and the environment from its worst effects.
“With today’s declaration, we witnessed a groundswell of movement with countries focusing on plastic pollution and momentum building to finalise a global treaty to end plastic pollution,” Senator Watt said.
“We need to come together to agree on a global treaty that tackles this problem with measures across the full lifecycle of plastics — it’s within our reach, and there isn’t a moment to lose.
“In our Pacific region, including on Australia’s coastline and offshore territories, we see the impacts of globally mismanaged plastics, which are killing marine life and washing up on shore.”
The ABC reported last month that plastic waste was becoming so pervasive that seabirds on pristine Lord Howe Island were being found with “crunching” bellies full of plastic.
A global agreement was meant to be reached late last year, but negotiations stalled.
However, signatories to the Nice wake-up call said they were heartened by constructive engagement by the “majority” of nations at this week’s UN conference to conclude an effective treaty.
Australia will join other nations, including Switzerland, in August for a final round of negotiations on the global plastics treaty.
Minister signals action on plastic imports.
Plastic recycling rates have sat at about 12.5 per cent since 2017, despite industry commitments in that year for 70 per cent of plastics to be recycled by 2025.
That stagnation is partly due to a lack of domestic demand for recycled products.
Senator Watt said in a statement that Australia had implemented bans on “problematic plastics” such as straws, plastic bags, and single-use containers, but a globally coordinated approach was needed to drive further progress.
The minister signalled that Australia was seeking to use a global agreement to force down imports of plastic.
Australia imports approximately 60 per cent of the plastic used in our economy. A global treaty will help us ensure that plastic imports are safe and designed for circularity,” Senator Watt said.
“This will also allow us to increase plastic recycling rates, further develop recycling industries, and create a level playing field for domestic industry as it continues its transition to a more circular economy, building our industries of the future, and delivering critical outcomes for the environment and human health.”
The plastics treaty is hoped to include binding measures to improve the design of plastic products and minimize their environmental impact, as well as a legally binding phase-out of problematic plastics, which would be determined through a register that could be updated over time.
A House inquiry commissioned by former Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek recommended in June that Australia investigate a UK-style levy, which would require plastics to use at least 30 percent recycled content and could be increased over time.
Learn more:
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