Plastics Treaty Talks – India Opposes Phase-Out

Background – What is the Global Plastics Treaty?

• Origin: Negotiations under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to create the world’s first legally binding plastics treaty, addressing plastic pollution across its life cycle.
• Mandate: Agreed in 2022 by UN member states to finalise the treaty by end-2024; current Geneva round is in its second and final week before the next meeting in Busan (Nov–Dec 2025).
• Scope: Covers measures on:
  • Plastic production limits.
  • Phase-out of harmful/single-use products.
  • Waste management improvements.
  • Financing, technology transfer, and international cooperation.

Relevance : GS 3(Environment and Ecology)

India’s Stance in Geneva

• Aligned With: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran — largely oil/petrochemical producers.
• Opposed Provisions:
  • Mandatory phase-out or supply restrictions on primary polymer production.
  • Annexed global product phase-out lists with fixed deadlines (Annex Y).
  • Any article duplicating or overlapping with other international bodies (WTO, WHO).
• Demanded:
  • No global lists/dates for product bans in the main treaty text.
  • Focus on national discretion and flexibility.
  • Stronger emphasis on finance, technical assistance, and technology transfer to help developing countries meet obligations.

Annex Y – Controversial List

• Contents: Items proposed for global phase-out such as:
  • Single-use plastic bags.
  • Straws, cutlery.
  • Balloon sticks.
  • Microbead-containing cosmetics.
• India’s Position:
  • Even if domestically some items are already banned, opposes binding global bans as they may limit policy flexibility and ignore local socio-economic contexts.

Reasons for India’s Opposition to Global Phase-Out

• Developmental Concerns: Binding global limits can constrain industrial growth and petrochemical sectors.
• Economic Impact: Threat to jobs and export competitiveness in plastics/petrochemicals.
• Technology Gaps: Lack of affordable, scalable alternatives for all banned products.
• Trade Law Issues: Risk of WTO disputes if treaty obligations conflict with trade rules.
• Policy Sovereignty: Preference for voluntary/ nationally determined actions over one-size-fits-all mandates.

Broader Negotiation Dynamics

• Pro-Phase-Out Bloc: EU, Mexico, Australia, many African nations – pushing for:
  • “High ambition” treaty.
  • Production caps, life-cycle controls, chemical use restrictions.
• Opposition Bloc: Major oil/plastics producers – focus on waste management, recycling, and downstream solutions instead of production cuts.
• Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDC): India among those calling for flexibility and national circumstances to dictate timelines.

Practical Realities of Porting Global Bans

• Implementation Challenges:
  • Infrastructure for waste collection and recycling is uneven globally.
  • High transition costs without assured financing.
• Risk of Non-Compliance: If bans are too rigid, countries may simply fail to implement, undermining treaty credibility.
• Financing Needs:
  • Grants/loans for waste management systems.
  • R&D support for biodegradable and alternative materials.
  • Technology transfer without prohibitive IP barriers.

Implications for India

• Short Term:
  • Maintains flexibility in domestic policy.
  • Protects economic interests of plastics and petrochemical industries.
• Medium to Long Term:
  • If the global market shifts towards reduced plastic use, India may face trade barriers on plastic exports.
  • Will eventually need to scale up alternatives and recycling capacity to remain competitive.
• Environmental Trade-Off:
  • Slower global phase-out means continued plastic leakage risks.
  • India’s domestic bans and EPR policies still play a key role in mitigation.

Way Forward – Balanced Approach

• India’s Negotiation Levers:
  • Advocate phased targets tied to finance & tech transfer.
  • Support capacity-building commitments before imposing production caps.
  • Push for differentiated obligations for developed vs. developing countries (CBDR principle).
• Domestic Strategy:
  • Strengthen enforcement of current single-use bans.
  • Incentivise industry shift to sustainable alternatives.
  • Enhance recycling infrastructure under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).