Marine scientists estimate that, on average, every minute the equivalent of a garbage truck full of plastic waste enters the world’s oceans, where it harms ocean wildlife and threatens entire ecosystems. Human health concerns about plastics are also on the rise as more research emerges about our exposure to microplastics and hazardous chemical components of some plastic materials.
Three years ago, world leaders at the United Nations Environment Assembly pledged to do something about plastic waste with a historic resolution to forge an international agreement to address the full lifecycle of plastic from production and design to collection, disposal and recycling.
The U.N. goal was to finalize a treaty on plastic pollution by the end of 2024. However, the last round of talks ended in stalemate between some wealthy nations that produce plastics and the developing countries that often end up shouldering the burden of plastic waste. Next month, international negotiators will gather in Geneva in another attempt to reach an agreement on a global plastic treaty.
Newsweek
Join Newsweek Thursday, July 24, at 2 p.m. ET for the live remote event “Turning the Tide on Plastic Waste,“ an expert discussion on the treaty and what it could mean for one of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
Our panel will feature leading industry innovators working to reduce packaging waste and improve recycling alongside policy experts who will unpack the treaty’s key provisions and preview what to expect in the next round of talks.
Panelists include:
Steve Alexander, president and chief executive officer of the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR). As the international trade association representing the plastics recycling industry, the APR is “the voice of plastics recycling,” and members cover a wide range of companies committed to the success of plastics recycling. Alexander spent more than 20 year representing corporate and association clients on Capitol Hill and in state legislatures, including 10 years with Eastman Kodak Company, where he specialized in environment, technology and appropriations issues. Read about the APR’s work to improve plastic recycling in this story from December.
Dr. Douglas McCauley, professor at the University of California…
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