Comment

The future of plastic pollution is in businesses’ hands

As the INC-5 talks fail to achieve agreement, the private sector has both the capability and responsibility to find plastic pollution solutions through innovation and leadership.

Sarah Perreard, Co-CEO, EA Earth Action
Sarah Perreard, Co-CEO, EA Earth Action
The recent conclusion of the UN Global Plastics Treaty conference in Busan left the world at a crossroads. While the negotiations did not deliver on its initial promise – to knuckle down and deliver an ambitious treaty to address plastic pollution, they underscored a critical reality: businesses must take the helm.

In Busan, nearly 100 countries rallied around vital principles like global phase-outs of certain plastics and limits on production. Despite this alignment, the lack of unanimous political consensus leaves the process in limbo and delays much-needed action.

The conference was not without its victories. A coalition of committed nations and businesses demonstrated that a future rooted in transparency, innovation, and collaboration is both desired and achievable. The key question is: Who will take the first step?

Governments and citizens expect businesses to act decisively to curb this trajectory. The fragmented regulatory landscape, with countries imposing varied bans and packaging rules, complicates compliance and drives up operational costs. Admittedly, a unified global framework would simplify these challenges, but the absence of such a treaty should not delay action.

Leading businesses understand that environmental responsibility is not only a moral imperative but an economic opportunity. Transitioning to sustainable practices, investing in innovation, and embracing circular systems directly leads to increased resilience, consumer backing, and unlocks long-term profitability. This is a moment for businesses to showcase the potential of market-driven solutions, proving that sustainable practices are not just viable—they are vital.

While the next round of negotiations (INC-5.2) offers hope for a stronger global treaty, businesses cannot afford to wait. Now is the time to model best practices and demonstrate leadership. This means committing to ambitious sustainability goals, investing in the development of circular systems, and advocating for standardised global frameworks. Businesses must lead by example, showing that reducing plastic use is not just an environmental necessity but an economic strategy for resilience and growth.

Industry frontrunners can also act as advocates for policy change, amplifying the voices the coalition of countries demanding binding global targets. By aligning their operations with the principles of transparency, accountability, and innovation, businesses can influence the trajectory of negotiations, proving that robust action benefits both people and profits.

Businesses can use tools like Plasteax, which gives granular data on plastic leakage, and SAP’s Responsible Design and Production, a solution for EPR, plastic taxes and material optimization, that equips business  to mitigate risk, get ahead of regulation and become sustainability pioneers.

In addition to this, bodies like The Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty and the Plastic Footprint Network are already pushing for best practice in the sector. The latter was specifically established to unify methodologies for conducting Plastic Footprint assessments and to create and advocate for the adoption and scaling of a single, up-to-date framework for plastic pollution mitigation.

The road to Busan was not the end—it was a stepping stone. Businesses have the momentum, the resources, and the responsibility to lead the transition away from plastic use. Policymakers may have faltered, but businesses can seize this moment to act decisively, demonstrating that the solutions to plastic pollution lie as much in boardrooms as in diplomatic chambers.

As we look toward the next chapter in global negotiations, businesses must take the reins. By remaining informed, working transparently, and embracing the science, companies can catalyse the systemic change needed to stem plastic pollution.

The world is watching—and for business, there has never been a better time to lead than now. 

Sarah Perreard, Co-CEO, EA Earth Action

Related Articles