Preliminary business recommendations for an ambitious UN instrument to end plastic pollution

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) – as the institutional representative of more than 45 million companies in over 100 countries, and as Permanent Observer to the UN General Assembly and official UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Focal Point for Business and Industry – welcomes the landmark decision at the resumed fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly to develop an internationally LBI to end plastic pollution and recognises the need for urgent and ambitious action by all stakeholders to address this pressing environmental challenge.

ICC acknowledges the essential role of business community in the process to develop such an instrument. In this regard, ICC is committed to support efforts to secure an ambitious, workable and effective agreement by 2024, by informing the deliberations and contributing extensive experience and expertise, as well as providing constructive recommendations and feasible solutions to the process.

A coordinated, concerted and holistic approach with respect to design, use and reuse of plastics will be critically needed, as well as the consideration of the interlinkages between climate, biodiversity and trade in moving from a linear to a circular economy.

Many companies are already taking action to develop responses and solutions, but this is not enough to achieve the systemic change needed to tackle the plastic pollution crisis. ICC calls on governments to raise ambition in establishing an effective and implementable treaty that will enable and encourage the whole business community to fully play its part in tackling this critical environmental issue.