Countries to adopt “reuse targets” if text is adopted
Environmental charity City to Sea has today (4 September) welcomed the inclusion of reuse targets1 in the first ever draft of the Global Plastics Treaty as “a potential gamechanger” in the global campaign against plastic pollution. The “Zero draft text of the international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment” was published earlier today by the UNEP.
City to Sea’s Policy Manager Steve Hynd said, “This is a potential gamechanger and a historic day in our global campaign against plastic pollution.”
He said his group had “long maintained that reuse targets are one of the most important policy instruments we have to tackle plastic pollution.”
“By embedding reuse targets governments can give the private sector the confidence it needs to be both move to existing refill and reuse systems but to also invest in the research that’s needed to mainstream reuse in packaging.”
He continued, “For the UK to stake a claim a real global leader in this process they should now set, in conjunction with the devolved administrations, an ambitious and legally binding reuse target just as other countries like France have already done. Without this they open themselves to accusations of asking others to do as they say, not as they do. This is time for the UK to put their money where their mouth is and show real leadership in the transition away from single-use plastics”.
Notes
[1] On reuse targets the draft text gives two options. Note that the target referred it in Option 1 in Annex C is yet to be set. The text says:
b. Reduce, reuse, refill and repair of plastics and plastic products
Option 1
1. Each Party shall, based on guidance to be adopted by the governing body* at its first session, take effective measures to promote the reduction, reuse, refill, repair, repurposing and refurbishment, as relevant, of plastics and plastic products produced within its territory and those available on its market, in particular through the implementation of reuse, refill and repair systems.25 2. Each Party shall take the necessary measures to achieve the minimum reduction, reuse, refill and repair targets contained in part II of annex C within the timeframe identified in that annex, for plastics and plastic products produced within its territory and those available on its market.
Option 2
1. Each Party shall, based on guidance to be provided by the governing body* at the latest by its second session, take effective measures to promote the reuse, refill, repair, repurposing and refurbishment, as relevant, of plastics and plastic products produced within its territory and those available on its market, in particular through the implementation of reuse, refill and repair systems.26 2. Each Party should adopt timebound targets in support of this objective.
