Plastics under pressure: Why a global agreement is inevitable

A commentary by Ben Kuplien, PetPack Journal

On average, pet food packaging has a lifespan of a few weeks. Produced from highly processed plastic, it often goes straight into the bin after the last remnant of food. Hardly anyone knows what happens to it afterwards. And if they do, they prefer to ignore it: landfill, export, incineration, sometimes even the open environment. All in all, this creates a global problem that can no longer be ignored. This is precisely why more than 170 countries have been negotiating a legally binding global plastics agreement since 2022.

In December 2024, the fifth round of negotiations (INC-5) took place in Busan, South Korea - a meeting that could be considered a milestone. There, the contours of a possible treaty that goes far beyond recycling became clearer. It is about nothing less than a global realignment of the plastics era.

The goal: a treaty that not only regulates recycling, but the entire life cycle of plastics. From the extraction of raw materials through production, use and collection to disposal. In other words, an agreement that starts where the problem arises. And that also means a deep cut for the packaging industry.

There is still no consensus on what this agreement should look like in concrete terms. However, the general line is clear: the global community wants to stem the flood of plastic. Not sometime, but soon. Time is of the essence: around 11 million tons of plastic waste end up in the oceans every year. If nothing is done, it could be three times as much by 2040. The OECD estimates that global plastic production will almost double by 2060 if no effective countermeasures are taken.

For pet food packaging manufacturers, this is more than just a distant debate. It is about upcoming regulations, new standards and a growing public awareness of materials that have been used uncritically for decades. More and more supermarket chains, brand owners and consumers are demanding alternative solutions. Anyone still thinking in terms of monomaterials today will probably have to worry about recyclate content, design-for-recycling and labeling requirements tomorrow.

The industry is not alone in this. In this series, we want to look at the four key issues that are currently at the center of international negotiations:

Chemicals in plastics - Which substances in packaging are considered problematic and how they should be regulated.

Global circular economy - What a functioning plastics recycling system could look like worldwide and what role producer responsibility plays in this.

Political interests and lines of conflict - Why oil producers and emerging economies are struggling to reduce plastic production.

Uniform standards - Why a global framework could even be a relief for many companies.

At the same time, the planned agreement is also an opportunity. For the first time, a global consensus could emerge. Until now, companies have been operating in a patchwork of national regulations. Anyone who exports has to work their way through countless laws and regulations. An international framework could bring clarity - and reward innovation. Above all, it could prevent manufacturers from producing where environmental regulations are the least stringent.

“An international framework could bring clarity – and reward innovation”

Previous rounds of negotiations show how difficult this goal is. The last meeting – INC-5 – took place in South Korea, in December 2024. It became clear there that the limitation of plastics production in particular was met with resistance - especially from oil-producing countries that fear economic disadvantages. The handling of harmful additives such as phthalates, PFAS and BPA is also the subject of controversial debate.

Another key issue is support for developing and emerging countries. After all, a global agreement that is also to be effective in countries such as Mali or Bangladesh requires not only rules, but also infrastructure and financing. A fund is therefore planned into which rich industrialized countries in particular will pay in order to build up recycling infrastructure and expertise globally.

The final agreement should be in place by August 2025. Whether it will succeed remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the packaging industry is in the midst of change. And tomorrow’s compromise will determine the reality of the day after tomorrow.

Look forward to our INC-5 series in the coming issues:  

Until August, we will shed light on the most important points of contention and possible solutions surrounding the planned plastics agreement - from problematic ingredients and the global circular economy to political interests and the question of uniform standards. Each issue will bring us one step closer to what lies ahead for the packaging industry worldwide.

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