Making the global plastics treaty work for micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs)
Ellen MacArthur Foundation
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This report was first published at https://links.emf.org/4hHLN6K
A legally binding UN treaty with global rules is needed to end plastic pollution. By design, it must transform the plastics industry and drive change across the plastic packaging value chain, from major multinationals to Micro-, Small-, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs).
MSMEs are crucial to the success of a Global Plastics Treaty as they are engines of innovation in many sections of the plastics industry, and represent 90% of businesses worldwide.?
Yet, the specific implications of ambitious global rules in the plastics treaty are, to date, less understood for MSMEs.?
That is why the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, in partnership with WWF, commissioned a study that assesses the impact of an ambitious, effective and legally binding global plastics treaty on MSMEs across the plastic packaging value chain. It is intended as a first exploration and while it provides useful insights, we welcome further research and investigation into this area.
The study shows that policymakers can be confident that there is broad support among MSMEs for an ambitious and legally binding plastics treaty.?
It also found that global rules can unlock significant opportunities and benefits across the MSME landscape, if implemented effectively and fairly in the plastics treaty.?
To ensure that MSMEs harness the expected benefits over time, the treaty should establish specific policy measures that support MSMEs in managing the transition, such as differentiated implementation timelines and dedicated financing for MSMEs.
Read the report in English here.
Also available to download in Portuguese, Spanish and French.
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2 周The proposed UN plastics treaty, with its legally binding global rules, represents a pivotal opportunity to address plastic pollution at its core, compelling transformative changes across the entire plastics value chain. For genuine impact, this treaty must account for the unique roles and challenges faced by Micro-, Small-, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), which, though often overlooked, make up about 90% of businesses globally and are critical innovators within the plastics industry. Integrating MSMEs into this framework can foster sustainable practices at a grassroots level, catalyzing industry-wide shifts toward reduced plastic use, recycling innovations, and sustainable alternatives. However, it’s essential that the treaty considers the specific operational and financial capacities of MSMEs, offering support or incentives to ease their transition, as they play a key role in making the global efforts to curb plastic pollution both practical and impactful.
Learn more: https://links.emf.org/4hHLN6K