Global partnership will address hazardous substances in plastics

A UN-led global partnership will promote the development of policies and regulations that avoid the use of hazardous substances in plastics. The long-term goal of the partnership – launched this week by UN Environment – is to eliminate the discharge of plastic waste and microplastics into the environment. Led by the secretariat of the UN's Stockholm, Basel and Rotterdam conventions, which regulates the international movement and handling of waste and hazardous chemicals, the partnership will bring together representatives and resources from industry, government, civil society and academic sectors.
In June, the UN published a paper setting out the activities the partnership will work on in 2020-2021. These include:  analysing the impacts of current policy frameworks on plastic waste; identifying barriers to the prevention and environmentally sound management of plastic waste; collecting information on the transboundary movements of plastic waste; and  facilitating the sharing of technical advice and technology between countries that could support policies or public-private initiatives.