As the world prepares to gather again in Geneva this August for the next round of negotiations on a legally binding international instrument (ILBI) to end plastic pollution, VOICE, proud members of the Break Free From Plastic movement, has sent a letter to the Irish Government calling for strong leadership.
Why? Because Ireland has the potential to help shape a treaty that could finally tackle the plastic pollution crisis at its roots.
What’s Happening in Geneva?
Plastic Pollution is one of the most urgent environmental crises worldwide, and Ireland faces a pivotal moment to shape global solutions. The recent INC-5.1 meeting in Busan failed to produce a final global plastics treaty, revealing deep divides.
The failure at INC-5.1 occurred because countries couldn’t agree on important goals for the treaty. They couldn’t decide on how much to cut plastic production or which harmful chemicals to ban. Big differences between oil-producing countries and the “High Ambition Coalition” stopped them from finding common ground. The negotiations balanced economic interests with environmental needs, but the narrow focus on chemicals in finished products left broader pollution problems risks unaddressed.
The fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) is a critical moment in the global effort to develop a Plastics Treaty that would be legally binding for countries around the world. If done right, this treaty can:
- Reduce plastic production at the source
- Ban harmful chemicals and unnecessary plastic products
- Support the shift to reuse systems
- Ensure fair and transparent global implementation
Why VOICE Wrote to the Irish Government
In our letter, we urged Ireland, and the EU as a whole, to champion an ambitious position in these negotiations.
As a member of the High Ambition Coalition, Ireland has already signaled its commitment to bold climate and environmental action. We believe this is a crucial moment for the Government to follow through, not just with words, but with leadership.
The treaty under discussion isn’t just about managing plastic waste, it’s about changing the entire system that creates plastic pollution in the first place.Ireland has a critical role to play. The government’s Climate Action Plan 2025 commits to advancing global plastic negations following UNEA-6in Nairobi and INC-5 sessions. Ireland must push for legally binding global targets to cut virgin plastic production, because without production cuts, waste management alone won’t solve the crisis.
Our Key Recommendations
Here’s what we’re asking Ireland to fight for in the treaty:
- A cap and eventual phase-down of plastic production
Plastic production is skyrocketing and could consume up to a third of the world’s remaining carbon budget. We need binding global targets to freeze and reduce it. - Regulation of harmful chemicals
Thousands of chemicals in plastics pose risks to our health and the environment. The treaty must address these; starting with a global list of chemicals to phase out. - Restrictions on problematic and single-use plastics
Many plastic products are designed to be used once and thrown away. Alternatives exist, it’s time to support reuse, not waste. - Design standards for reuse and circularity
Products should be built to last and to be reused, repaired, or recycled, we have to start using our resources wisely and continuously. Common global design rules would make that possible. - A strong financial mechanism
Countries need support to implement the treaty. That means fair funding from a mix of public and private sources, following the polluter pays principle. - Effective decision-making rules
The treaty must allow progress even if a few countries try to block it. That includes majority voting rules for key decisions.
Why This Matters
Plastic pollution doesn’t stop at borders. It’s choking our oceans, harming wildlife, infiltrating our food systems, and fueling the climate crisis. Over 400 million tons of plastic are produced globally each year, yet only about 9% of all plastic waste ever generated has been recycled. This massive gap highlights the urgent need to reduce plastic production and improve waste management.
Plastic production has skyrocketed nearly 20-fold since the 1960s – from 20 million metric tonnes in 1966 to 381 million in 2015 – and is projected to double again by 2040 without urgent action.
The failure at INC-5.1 isn’t just a missed political opportunity, it’s a set back for the planet and all living beings depending on a healthier future. With plastic pollution growing faster every year, the world urgently needs clear, strong commitments to reduce production and ban harmful chemicals. The deep disagreements among countries show how challenging it is to balance economic interests with the health of our environment. This is why Ireland must step up as a leader in these negotiations, championing bold action and holding all parties accountable to protect our shared environment for future generations.
A strong Plastics Treaty could be a turning point, if governments step up with ambition and urgency. Ireland can be one of those governments. In fact, given our existing climate commitments and our role in the EU, we must be.
Want to Know More?
We’ve sent a detailed letter to Ministers Darragh O’Brien and Alan Dillon outlining our recommendations. We invite you to read it and share it, because the more people speak up for bold action, the better chance we have of making this treaty matter.
