End the Plastic Era!
To the Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience, and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, and the Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution, Ambassador Luis Vayas Valdivieso.
Petition
We demand that the EU and the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution hold the line and push for a rapid, transparent and strong text for the Global Plastics Treaty — one that includes:
- Binding caps on virgin plastic production worldwide.
- Mandatory global targets — not voluntary pledges.
- Regulation of the full lifecycle of plastics, from design to disposal.
- A ban on harmful single-use plastics with clear phase-out deadlines.
- Strict controls and phase-outs for toxic chemical additives in plastics.
- Fair support for Global South countries through funding and technology transfer.
To achieve this goal, we urge the INC to move beyond unanimity and adopt a two-thirds majority voting system that ensures progress.
Why is this important?
Every year, 21 million tonnes of plastic waste leak into the environment — enough to cover every single beach in the world with a thick layer of trash — poisoning soils, oceans, and every living being. Scientists have found microplastics in our lungs, brains, and even placentas. [1]
In 2022, world leaders proposed a Global Plastics Treaty to stop plastic from further suffocating our planet. It was meant to be one of the most ambitious environmental deals in history, forcing polluters to take responsibility, and finally breaking Big Plastic’s grip on our future. [2]
But just two weeks ago, negotiations in Geneva collapsed. [3] Why? Because it required unanimous approval from more than 180 countries. Even just one plastic-polluting country can block the entire world from acting.
It doesn’t have to be this way. The EU, backed by more than 100 countries, has voiced its frustration and wants this deal to move forward. [4] The only solution is to ditch the broken unanimity rule and move to majority voting. If two-thirds of countries want to save the planet from plastic, the negotiations can move forward.
Right now, leaders are considering this proposal after the last disappointing summit. Now is our moment to push for change. A powerful wave of public pressure can help world leaders move to majority voting and secure a strong Global Plastics Treaty.
Will you add your name to help seal the deal?
References:
[1] https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/plastics.html
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/03/levels-of-microplastics-in-human-brains-may-be-rapidly-rising-study-suggests
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/feb/27/microplastics-found-every-human-placenta-tested-study-health-impact
https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/newsroom/editorial/public-exposure-to-bisphenol-a
[2] https://hactoendplasticpollution.org/
[3] https://www.climatechangenews.com/2025/08/08/as-us-joins-oil-states-in-blocking-production-cuts-un-plastics-treaty-talks-remain-deadlocked
https://apnews.com/article/plastic-pollution-treaty-negotiations-united-nations-geneva-e73090282a22be7ff5979ea2d648dc10
[4] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/15/plastic-pollution-talks-geneva-treaty