Unilever: Staying Committed as Global Plastics Treaty Stalls

Efforts to establish a Global Plastics Treaty at the fifth Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee (INC-5) Summit in Busan, South Korea, have faltered.

Yet, organisations like Unilever remain firm in their dedication to addressing the plastic pollution crisis.

The talks, meant to finalise a treaty addressing plastic waste globally, collapsed due to disagreements, with interference from major oil producers highlighted as a significant factor.

Despite this setback, Unilever has doubled down on its call for strong international regulations, emphasising the urgent need for a cohesive global response to the issue.

Unilever's take on the INC-5 outcome

Unilever, a leading fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company, has been vocal about the need for sustainable plastic management. Following the INC-5 Summit's failure to reach an agreement, the company expressed both disappointment and hope in a detailed statement.

The statement begins: "Despite tireless efforts by the INC Chair and government negotiators to finalise a global plastics treaty, it will not be agreed in Busan, as planned."

Unilever also highlighted positive developments, including support from over 100 countries for measures such as phasing out certain plastics and adopting sustainable production limits. Progress in areas like product design and waste management was noted as a foundation for future negotiations.

The company called for decisive action at the next phase of negotiations, urging governments to embrace a treaty with enforceable global rules: "At the resumed INC5.2 session, governments must make a choice.

"They can continue negotiating a treaty with universal support but little impact. Or they can agree on a treaty based on strong global rules across the full lifecycle of plastics and with a comprehensive financing mechanism."

Unilever also warned that delays in reaching an agreement risk undermining meaningful progress, reiterating the importance of a comprehensive treaty to combat the mounting plastic crisis.

Advocacy for sustainable practices

As a key player in sustainability advocacy, Unilever is actively involved in the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty. The coalition includes more than 275 companies pushing for enforceable rules to regulate plastics.

Unilever has also partnered with prominent organisations, such as the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), to advance sustainability goals.

These partnerships reflect the company's broader commitment to transitioning from a linear plastic economy—characterised by the "take, make, dispose" model—to a circular one that focuses on reuse and recycling.

CEO Hein Schumacher has consistently advocated for global standards.

In a blog post earlier this year, Hein stated: "Urgent steps to end plastic pollution are required. The current plastic lifecycle remains primarily linear – take, make, dispose – and the statistics from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) are telling: from 2000 to 2019, plastic production and plastic waste have more than doubled, while only 9% of plastic ultimately gets recycled."

Hein also cited alarming projections from the OECD, which forecast plastic waste almost tripling by 2060 and significant increases in greenhouse gas emissions from plastics.

He stressed that this trajectory is incompatible with the Paris Climate Agreement's goals, urging governments to adopt harmonised global regulations.

Acknowledging its own contribution to plastic pollution, particularly through packaging, Unilever continues to champion definitive solutions to these pressing challenges.

Hope and resilience for future action

Despite the setback at INC-5, Unilever’s leadership remains optimistic about achieving meaningful progress in the next round of negotiations.

Rebecca Marmot, Unilever’s Chief Sustainability Officer, reflected on the summit's outcome in a LinkedIn post.

She shared her disappointment but also expressed determination to push for a legally binding treaty that harmonises policies and helps scale solutions: "We were hoping – and have worked extensively – for an international legally binding instrument that would harmonise the policy landscape, strengthen national legislation and help businesses scale proven solutions for priority sectors, such as packaging."

Rebecca also recognises the alignment of more than 100 nations on critical elements as a positive step forward, even amid setbacks. "There is disappointment but there is also grit and perseverance," she wrote, highlighting the resilience required to navigate the challenges ahead.

Commending the Unilever team for amplifying business voices in the global dialogue, she added: "I’m proud of the Unilever team and all their work with the Business For A Plastics Treaty to advocate for a high ambition outcome and for ensuring that governments around the world heard loud and clear that #BusinessNeedsGlobalRules."

As negotiations prepare to resume, Unilever’s commitment to transformative solutions remains unwavering. "There’s no time to waste," the company insists, reaffirming its focus on urgent and effective action to tackle the global plastic crisis.

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