Momentum hangs in the balance: INC-5.2 must produce a final agreement
Washington – (29 July 2025) As governments prepare to meet in Geneva for the resumed fifth session of negotiations on a global plastics agreement (INC-5.2), the Global Partners for Plastics Circularity (GPPC) is reiterating its support for a meaningful, effective outcome, and urging negotiators to finish the job.
With only one session remaining, governments must focus on common ground and deliver an agreement that countries can implement and that communities can benefit from. At the heart of an effective agreement is circularity—where plastics are designed to be reused or recycled, collected at end-of-life and remade into new products, so they stay in the economy and out of the environment.
“This is a critical moment. The world cannot afford to miss this opportunity to forge a robust global agreement that helps end plastic pollution,” said Dr. Ilham Kadri, president of the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA). “Governments have made meaningful progress, and now it’s time to turn ambition into action. The industry stands ready with the data, innovation, and global partnerships needed to support implementation. We are not just asking for an agreement, we are prepared to help deliver it.” “
Industry remains committed to supporting an agreement that can help end plastic pollution while enabling innovation, investment, and continued access to the essential benefits plastics provide. To succeed, the agreement must be one that all countries can join, because global challenges demand global solutions.
To help inform and equip negotiators, GPPC continues to offer a range of science-based resources:
- ICCA’s Plastic Additives Database – ICCA has made significant updates to its Plastic Additives Database. By aggregating extensive information on thousands of additives, this tool improves transparency and supports capacity building efforts for developing economies to regulate chemical additives used in plastics by leveraging existing data and risk assessments conducted by governments and multilateral institutions spanning the globe. ICCA’s Plastic Additives Database is the only resource to verify an additive’s commercial use within the past 10 years.
- Decision Tree to Prevent Plastic Pollution – A step-by-step tool that helps governments assess plastic products across three dimensions: design for circularity, local waste management capacity, and socio-economic value. It guides users through targeted actions—such as redesign, improved end-of-life treatment, or identifying alternatives—based on national circumstances and circularity goals.
- Industry Policy Recommendations – Clear recommendations from the GPPC to draft an agreement that is effective, inclusive, and implementable by all nations across the globe.
“The global plastics agreement is an opportunity to move towards a circular economy. We’ve seen promising convergence on several key areas like design, infrastructure, and addressing high-leakage products. We urge negotiators to seize this moment and bring the agreement across the finish line. Let’s not let the perfect stand in the way of the possible,” said Marco Mensink, council secretary of ICCA.
Industry observers will be at INC-5.2 and stand ready to support negotiators in finalizing a practical, science-based agreement that unites countries around solutions to end plastic pollution.
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Global Partners for Plastics Circularity
The Global Partners for Plastics Circularity (GPPC) is a multinational collaboration of associations and companies that make, use and recycle plastics. GPPC is supported by the World Plastics Council and the International Council of Chemical Associations. We are advocating a global agreement to help accelerate a sustainable, circular economy for plastics. These modern plastic materials are used around the world to create essential and often life-saving products, many of which are critical to a lower carbon, more sustainable future.
Contact: Matthew Kastner
Phone: +1 202-961-0634
Email: matthew_kastner@americanchemistry.com