With four days remaining, the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) held a plenary meeting to report on the progress of each Contact Group.

So far, negotiations have made only limited progress. Only Contact Group 2 has submitted documents on waste plastic management for committee consideration, the other groups have yet to present any documents after their discussions.

INC Chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso urged the Contact Groups to accelerate negotiations in order to secure a binding resolution before the deadline.

Meanwhile, editors of Adsale Plastics Network participated in several side conferences hosted by NGOs from various countries, enhancing their understanding of issues related to reducing plastic production, extended producer responsibility (EPR), and more.

INC-5 held a plenary meeting to report on the progress of each Contact Group.

INC Chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso led the plenary meeting.

1. Reduce or not reduce plastic production

The controversial issue of whether plastic production should be reduced is a key focus of the ongoing negotiations. The European Union and the High Ambition Coalition, which consists of 67 countries, advocate for a reduction in plastic production at the polymer stage and call for a phase-out of problematic single-use plastic products.

However, a representative from the World Resources Institute Indonesia (WRI Indonesia) cautions that reducing production may lead to job losses. Additionally, phasing out single-use plastic products could increase expenses for low-income people who must turn to costly alternatives.

From this perspective, the question of reducing plastic production extends beyond mere production concerns; it encompasses economic and social dimensions that require careful consideration of the fairness for all stakeholders involved.

2. Ensure fair implementation of EPR

EPR is another key topic of significant concern. The business alliance, which includes major companies such as Amcor, ALPLA, Walmart, PepsiCo, Unilever, and Nestlé, supports the establishment of an EPR system within the treaty. This policy would require companies that introduce packaging and other short-lived products to finance the collection and processing of these products after use, thereby helping to improve recycling rates.

A representative from Nestlé emphasized that EPR cannot operate independently; it must align with governmental waste management policies. Additionally, an effective EPR mechanism is essential to prevent opportunism, ensuring fairness for companies that have heavily invested in EPR initiatives.

During a side conference hosted by Green Recycling Plastic Supply Chain Group (GRPG) and other organizations, representatives from China highlighted that the EPR system in the treaty should consider the actual circumstances of production, consumption, and disposal to achieve comprehensive chain management.

While the EPR system has the potential to promote a circular economy, enhance recycling rates, and improve the transparency of material and financial flows, it requires global compliance and coordination to ensure fair implementation across all stakeholders.

3. Establish reuse and refill system

During the INC-5 side conferences, the editors noted that "Reuse and refill" have emerged as crucial strategies for reducing single-use plastic products, gaining support from numerous industry organizations.

For instance, Greenpeace has introduced self-service filling systems in over 2,000 retail stores across nine cities in the Philippines, primarily targeting fast-moving consumer goods. This initiative aims to encourage local residents to minimize reliance on disposable small packaging.

A representative from a zero-waste organization in Indonesia highlighted that reusing packaging would offset economic losses associated with reducing single-use plastic. She projected that by 2030, reusing packaging in Indonesia would yield net benefits of $94.2 million, translating to about $253 in benefits for each ton of plastic packaging waste reduced.

Despite the advantages of reuse, challenges remain in its practical implementation. For example, the self-service filling systems in the Philippines necessitate substantial capital investment, along with a logistics system that requires localized design. Additionally, the overall costs are currently higher than those of small packaging.

On the topic of reuse, industry organizations hope that the global plastics treaty being negotiated in Busan will facilitate a smooth transition to a reuse and refill system and establish global objectives for such a system.