A Treaty To End The Age Of Plastic
Source: https://www.observerbd.com/news.php?id=395135
Author: Marian Ledesma
In the Philippines - one of the biggest recipients of plastic waste from all over the world - our communities disproportionately bear the brunt of environmental degradation caused by pollution with plastics. We are at risk because plastic production remains unchecked, and companies, in league with big oil, continue to burden us with their disposable packaging that harms our health and the climate just so they can maximise their profits. This is why it is essential that the Global Plastics Treaty immediately limit and reduce total plastic production and use. Cutting the amount of plastic that companies make and use is in line with the goal of keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius, as 99 percent of plastics are made from fossil fuels. Ending the corporate addiction to single-use plastic is a vital step towards addressing climate change and protecting communities. The Global Plastics Treaty we need must stop excessive plastic production, must keep oil and gas in the ground, and must mainstream refill and reuse systems. The reuse revolution is thriving with scalable solutions from around the world - from reusable cups at convenience stores and refilling systems in community shops, to the comeback of returnable glass bottles in the beverage sector. Policies like plastic bans and upstream-focused extended producer responsibility measures are paving the way for systemic change at local and national levels.