The goal of a fully international plastics treaty remains just a goal, but the results of the summit in Geneva has had some positive results according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

In a statement, the organisation expressed its disappointment of a lack of agreement at INC5.2, but said it left Geneva “feeling encouraged by the alignment developed over the last three years of treaty negotiations among a majority of countries, business, and civil society on a comprehensive approach to tackle plastic pollution across the full lifecycle”.

It is true that even getting the stakeholders together is progress, and that any such alignment did not exist before the start of negotiations. Rob Opsomer, executive lead for plastics and finance noted that it “provides a strong basis to build off going forward”.

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