While UN negotiations to deliver a legally binding plastics treaty have ended in deadlock, Australia remains aligned with the High Ambition Coalition and is progressing domestic efforts on recycling infrastructure and circular economy policy – though decisive action on packaging reform remains stalled.
Efforts to establish the world’s first legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution have hit a major roadblock, with talks in Geneva last week failing to reach consensus. The latest round of negotiations – under the United Nations Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC‑5.2) – concluded on 15 August without agreement on a draft treaty text, despite the participation of 185 countries and mounting global urgency to address the plastic crisis.
A fork in the plastic road
At the heart of the impasse is a fundamental division between countries pushing for ambitious upstream measures – including caps on virgin plastic production – and those advocating a narrower focus on downstream waste management.
The European Union, Canada, New Zealand and a coalition of Pacific Island nations have joined civil society groups and many Global South countries in calling for binding limits on plastic production. Australia is understood to be broadly aligned with this group, supporting a treaty that addresses the full lifecycle of plastics, from design and production through to disposal. This position is consistent with the federal government’s National Plastics Plan and commitment to the 2025 National Packaging Targets.
In contrast, oil-producing nations such as Saudi Arabia, Iran and Russia – backed by the United States – have resisted production caps, arguing instead for national flexibility and voluntary approaches focused on recycling, clean-up, and improved waste management infrastructure.
Government: Australia won’t accept a bad deal for the environment
In a formal statement following the talks, Australia’s Minister for the Environment, Murray Watt expressed disappointment at the outcome but reaffirmed the government’s resolve:
“While this is a disappointing outcome, our goals haven’t changed,” Minister Watt said, noting that as a member of the High Ambition Coalition to end plastic pollution, Government is “committed to continuing to work with other nations who want to see a world free of plastic pollution”.
“Australia wants to see a coordinated global phase-out of problematic plastic products and harmful chemicals used in plastics, as well as better design of plastics to reduce waste and increase circularity.”
Minister Watt noted Australia’s constructive engagement in Geneva and the importance of standing up for Pacific Island nations most affected by plastic pollution. He also emphasised the government’s commitment to doubling circularity by 2035 and highlighted key domestic actions.
“Through our Recycling Modernisation Fund, Australia’s recycling capacity is increasing by more than 1.3 million tonnes per year. Over 50 new and upgraded recycling infrastructure projects have now been completed, with over 80 projects in the pipeline,” he said.
“On top of this, we’re continuing to work with states and territories to phase out problematic single-use plastics and transforming Australia’s packaging regulations.”
Industry voice: focus on system design and lifecycle accountability
While many nations argued for production caps as a critical upstream control, some Australian industry leaders say the emphasis should shift to designing plastics and systems fit for circularity.
“The whole discussion about production caps has been a massive distraction from solving the problem the treaty was meant to solve: plastic waste,” said Jeroen Wassenaar, head of innovation at Cleanaway and vice president of the Society of Plastics Engineers Australia and New Zealand Section (SPE‑ANZ).
“Let’s focus on the problem and take a holistic approach to solutions. In my view we have to start with design of plastics and products to make them free of chemicals of concern, recyclable and reusable if practical.”
“Then let’s incorporate end-of-life costs to collect and recycle plastics into the purchase price through extended producer responsibility schemes. Mandatory recycled content targets will then pull through demand to result in circularity.”
Boomerang Alliance: new laws must embed circular economy principles
Environmental advocacy group Boomerang Alliance has welcomed Minister Watt’s commitment to domestic action and says that the focus must now shift to new packaging laws grounded in circular economy principles.
“With global plastic treaty negotiations stalled, we welcome Environment Minister Watt’s statements to continue to work with other nations to solve plastic pollution globally and his recognition that action at home must continue,” said Jeff Angel, Boomerang Alliance director.
“This must involve introduction of new packaging laws recognising that recycling is just one (lower order) option. New packaging laws must make producers of single-use plastic packaging responsible for their products across its entire lifecycle based upon circular economy principles.”
Angel said new legislation should continue the phase-out of problematic single-use packaging by Commonwealth and state governments; make producers responsible for their products across their entire lifecycle; and set mandatory targets to reduce, reuse and recycle single-use plastic packaging.
“There’s clearly an emerging consensus amongst diverse stakeholders about the fundamentals – now we need to urgently resolve targets and legal instruments,” Angel said.
Business calls for harmonised global rules
The Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty – which includes over 300 signatories from across the global plastics value chain, including major brand owners with an Australian presence and NGOs like Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation – expressed frustration at the delay but reiterated its support for harmonised global rules.
“This round of negotiations has failed to deliver the certainty that business needs to further mobilise investment and scale solutions to address plastic pollution,” the coalition stated.
“We now urge governments to explore all options to make an agreement based on harmonised regulations across the full lifecycle of plastics a reality.”
WWF: Consensus model no longer fit for purpose
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) sharply criticised the lack of progress in Geneva and called on countries, including Australia, to break from the limitations of consensus-based decision-making.
“This outcome is neither what communities, scientists, businesses and civil society demanded nor what our leaders promised,” said Zaynab Sadan, WWF’s Global Plastics Policy lead.
Domestically, WWF-Australia’s Malene Hand urged the government to accelerate long-delayed reforms to packaging regulation:
“The government must move forward with its proposed plastics and packaging reforms, which have remained stalled since October 2024. These include making businesses responsible for the environmental impact of their packaging, banning harmful chemicals in packaging and expanding support and incentives for reuse at scale,” she said.
SPSA: Local momentum continues
Barry Cosier, co-CEO of Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia (SPSA), welcomed Australia’s continued action on the home front.
“INC 5.2 may have ended without an agreement, but Australia is powering through,” Cosier said.
“Last week, the ACCC granted interim authorisation for SPSA’s scheme, and the Federal and NSW governments committed $11.2 million to ramp up recycling infrastructure. Global deadlock won’t stall local momentum.”
SPSA’s industry-led scheme aims to re-establish a national pathway for the recovery and recycling of soft plastic packaging, a critical gap since the collapse of REDcycle.
Circular economy advocates press on
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation and other global circular economy proponents continue to call for upstream solutions through redesign, reuse systems, and materials innovation to tackle plastic waste at the source. Their roadmap provides a framework for how a strong treaty could deliver this at scale.
Despite the Geneva deadlock, regional initiatives remain active. Angela Mayer, Senior ANZPAC Program Manager, who leads the Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands Plastics Pact (ANZPAC), said that while the treaty’s delay is disappointing, local momentum remains strong.
“The absence of a global plastics treaty is disappointing and slows international progress toward the reduction of plastics pollution, however, ANZPAC will continue to work with members and stakeholders to drive progress toward a circular economy for plastics in the region we serve.”
ANZPAC brings together stakeholders from industry, government and civil society to accelerate the transition to a circular economy for plastic packaging in Oceania. The initiative echoes the Foundation’s position that voluntary efforts must be underpinned by harmonised policy frameworks to achieve the scale and consistency required for circularity.
What’s next?
While the Geneva talks concluded without a treaty text or future session confirmed, most parties – including Australia – remain committed to securing a meaningful agreement. The Chair has indicated INC‑5.2 will resume at a later date.
Australia’s strong alignment with the High Ambition Coalition, coupled with domestic initiatives in infrastructure, regulation and stewardship, positions the nation as a proactive player in the fight against plastic pollution, despite the global stalemate.
