UN Fails to Reach Deal on Global Plastics Treaty

In a setback for global sustainability efforts, UN-led negotiations in Geneva on a legally binding plastic pollution treaty concluded without agreement. On Aug. 15, delegates from 184 countries adjourned after two weeks of intense talks. Key topics included phasing out harmful plastics and chemicals, implementing circular design criteria for products and packaging, waste management and producer responsibility, limiting virgin plastic production, and financing circular economy initiatives for countries in the Global South.

Negotiations collapsed due to disagreements over binding caps on plastic production and prohibitions on toxic chemicals. Most countries supported strict limits, while an oil-exporting minority—including the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait—opposed them. A new draft presented by committee chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso failed to resolve these issues. Over 100 nations, including Norway, Australia, Panama, and Tuvalu, criticized the proposal as weak.

 Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez, head, Panamanian delegation, accused the chair of yielding to large-scale polluters. “Our red lines—and those of the majority—were not only ignored, they were trampled,” he said, emphasizing the treaty must address the scale of the crisis. UK and Bangladeshi delegates echoed these concerns, while Denmark’s Magnus Heunicke argued compromise requires some flexibility on red lines.

Oil-producing nations insisted no treaty should violate their red lines, focusing instead on waste management and recycling rather than production limits. Environmental and indigenous groups stressed recycling alone is insufficient. “Recycling is a reaction to waste generation. It is not preventative,” said Mohamed Kamal, Executive Director, Greenish. David Azoulay of the Center for International Environmental Law argued some nations aimed to block progress entirely.

The failure leaves no clear path to address the more than 400 million tons of plastic produced annually—a figure expected to rise 70% by 2040. Mexico City alone generates 86,000 tons each year, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

Despite the collapse, UN Environment Programme Executive Director Inger Andersen noted progress was made. Mexico’s lead negotiator, Camila Zepeda, noted broad agreement that harmful plastics can be phased out, and that plastics containing additives harmful to health should be addressed. Mexico and Switzerland led proposals to phase out single-use and problematic plastics while eliminating certain toxic chemicals.

Pedro Prata of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation praised Mexico’s ambitious stance: “Despite being a major producer of plastic resin, Mexico supported bold measures to eliminate problematic plastics, promote packaging redesign, and advance circular economy solutions.” He added that voluntary action by companies remains critical in the absence of a global treaty, and that governments should work with the private sector to build on the general alignment over plastic lifecycle standards.