What is INC-5 and why does it matter?

As the fifth and final round of negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty kick off in Busan, South Korea this week, the Circular Economy Show Podcast’s Lou Waldegrave caught up with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Global Treaty Manager, Marta Longhurst, for a refresher on what INC-5 is, why it’s important, and what we should expect from it.?

Plastic pollution is a critical global issue: it overwhelms our waste management systems, floods into our waterways, and it gets into the air and soil. There are also concerns about implications for human health. With plastic production projected to increase significantly, limiting global warming to the 1.5 degrees necessary to meet climate challenges will be very difficult without urgent action.?

The severity, complexity, and scale of plastic pollution means that it must be tackled in a globally coordinated way. Voluntary action is important, and has shown that progress is possible. Now, a UN treaty based on global rules is needed to create a level playing field.?

The business case for a well-designed ambitious treaty based on comprehensive circular economy measures is clear and supported by over 260 businesses and financial institutions, including many of the world’s largest consumer goods companies who have joined the Business Coalition for a Global Plastic Treaty. This is true not only for large corporations, but for small and medium-sized businesses too, as shown in a recent report produced by the Foundation in partnership with WWF.

In this episode of the Circular Economy Show Podcast, Marta shares some of the key developments since the fourth round of negotiations at INC-4 in Ottawa earlier this year. These include rounds of technical work to progress action on key topics and an important proposal by the INC Chair, Ambassador Luis Valdez, on how delegations should approach this crucial final round in order to land a meaningful outcome.?

Going into INC-5, Marta explores the three main topics still up for discussion: how to finance the implementation of the treaty in ways that are fair and inclusive, whether measures will be based on global rules or determined by countries at a national level, and how to address plastic pollution at a production level rather than focusing on waste management alone. She emphasises the importance of a comprehensive approach and explains how existing policy levers such as Extended Product Responsibility (EPR) schemes can help enable the circulation of plastics that we do need. Given that member states have only seven days for negotiations, she notes, it will also be very important that agreements are made on how to strengthen the structures and the process of the treaty over time.?

Listen to the full episode here for more of Martha’s expert insight heading into INC-5 – including why business and finance must keep driving action and how a treaty that is fit for purpose can help accelerate the transition to a circular economy.