IV. THE OPECST NINE RECOMMENDATIONS
In March 2022, the United Nations Environment Assembly adopted Resolution 5/14 aimed at negotiating a global treaty to put an end to plastic pollution.
In November 2022, a 'coalition of scientists for an effective treaty on plastics' was formed. With 400 members from 64 different countries, it has made several recommendations based on proven scientific knowledge.
In turn, the Office sets out nine recommendations to the treaty negotiators.
1°. Conclude an ambitious and legally binding treaty
Only an ambitious treaty that improves waste management while imposing measures covering the entire plastics life cycle on countries around the world will bring about a significant reduction in plastic pollution.
2°. Plan for a significant reduction in the production of and demand for new virgin plastics
There is a direct link between an increase in the production of virgin plastics, an increase in waste and the accumulation of micro and nanoplastics in living organisms, including the human body. Consequently, only binding policies limiting the production of and demand for virgin plastics will help to combat plastic pollution effectively.
3°. Boost the capabilities of governments and scientists
The lack of institutional expertise and technical capacity, both public and private, to analyse chemicals and polymers, undermines authorities' ability to effectively regulate chemicals of concern. We must therefore promote the exchange of knowledge at a global level, ensure equal access to technical capabilities for all governments and private players, and strengthen institutional resources to ensure a more effective management of chemicals.
It is also essential to promote independent expertise and science, particularly through long-term funding. Project-based funding that only covers a few years prevents long-term research funding, for example for setting up and monitoring cohorts. This can lead to a loss of skills and knowledge when the project ends and reduces the effectiveness of public research.
4°. Require greater transparency from manufacturers on plastic chemicals, based on the principle of 'no data, no market'
For two thirds of chemicals, there is no information on their potential dangers, and for 60% of them, there is no information on their use or presence in plastic materials and products. Many unknown substances are found in plastics, including substances added unintentionally. Essential information may exist, particularly from manufacturers, but it is not available to the general public or the authorities.
Without transparency on the composition of plastics and the presence of chemicals, consumers cannot obtain necessary information on the chemical content of the plastics they use. Most of the population is unaware of the presence of bisphenol A in cans.
The lack of transparency about the chemical composition of plastics makes recycling difficult and potentially dangerous. Harmful products are found in toys made from recycled plastics and in recycled food packaging.
To impose greater transparency on the composition of plastic materials, governments must adopt a common approach that sets clear standards for the type of information to be collected from stakeholders throughout the value chain. A 'no data, no market' approach would help to disseminate essential information to the public.
5°. Reduce the number of chemicals used in polymer formulations
To be operational, greater transparency on chemicals means imposing a reduction in the number of formulations and simplifying the chemicals used in their composition. Such a measure will also make it easier for administrations to check compliance with regulations on chemicals by limiting the number of analyses required.
6°. Improve the effectiveness of the regulation of chemicals using an hazard-and-group based approach
Current regulations are based on an assessment of the risks associated with micro and nanoplastics. Analysing the 16,000 plastic chemicals is particularly costly and time-consuming, and requires precise data both on the hazard of each plastic chemical and on exposure to these plastics. In fact, given the large number of chemicals involved, generating and assessing such data is not feasible.
Furthermore, since humans are exposed to many plastic chemicals, assessing exposure for all scenarios to determine the risk involved would introduce insurmountable complexity and risk creating scientific uncertainty.
This is why the Office is proposing an approach based on hazard rather than risk to identify substances of concern that require action more quickly and effectively.
Hazard criteria should be set to identify chemicals of concern, adopting the four criteria used for the PlastChem database: persistence, bioaccumulation, mobility and toxicity.
The 10,000 chemicals for which there is no data must be assessed and regulated as a priority.
To make it easier for experts and political decision-makers, the Office is proposing a group-based approach, on the principle that chemicals with similar chemical structures cause identical effects. Fifteen priority groups of plastic chemicals have been identified, including bisphenols, phthalates, and PFAS.
7°. Develop more comprehensive life cycle analyses to better assess the negative externalities associated with the production and use of plastics
Plastics are ubiquitous today, not only because they offer versatility and flexibility that are hard to match, but also because they are a very cheap raw material.
However, the price of plastic does not account for the impact of its production and use on the environment and human health, which is passed on to the general public and public authorities. The Office encourages developing more comprehensive life cycle analyses that account for the negative externalities linked to the production and use of plastics to determine their real price.
8°. Set criteria to help eliminate non-essential plastics
The treaty must set out, on the one hand, several criteria to help eliminate non-essential plastics, and on the other, a principle of essential use to authorise, for a limited period, plastics that may be deemed dangerous, non-durable or unsustainable, but which are currently essential for society or health.
9°. Limit losses in the environment
Improving waste management in all countries, particularly developing countries, will not by itself put an end to plastics pollution. On the one hand, poorly managed waste can never be reduced to zero, even in the most advanced economies. On the other hand, plastics are released into the physical and living environment throughout their life cycle, and not just at the end of their life, as illustrated by the losses of industrial granules during production, transport and use.
Improving waste management worldwide is nevertheless essential to limit the losses of plastics to the environment.
In 2019, 22% of plastic waste (79 million tonnes) was poorly managed, i.e. not recycled, landfilled or incinerated. According to an OECD study, if current waste management practices do not improve, poorly managed plastic waste is expected to reach almost 270 million tonnes by 2060, with waste increasing most in countries with less developed waste management systems. This highlights the need to share best practice and existing technologies to provide technical and financial assistance to developing countries to improve their waste management systems to cope with the increase in waste.
The OPECST Nine Recommendations
- Conclude an ambitious and legally binding treaty
- Plan for a significant reduction in the production of and demand for new 'virgin' plastics
- Boost the capabilities of governments and scientists
- Require greater transparency from manufacturers on plastic chemicals, based on the principle of 'no data, no market'
- Reduce the number of chemicals used in polymer formulations
- Improve the effectiveness of the regulation of plastic chemicals using an hazard-and-group based approach
- Develop more comprehensive life cycle analyses to better assess the negative externalities associated with the production and use of plastics
- Set criteria to help eliminate non-essential plastics
- Limit losses in the environment