The leaders of two of the world\u2019s largest plastic makers today called for a global agreement among nations to eliminate plastic waste in the environment, urging governments and stakeholders worldwide to press for a treaty resolution at upcoming United Nations meetings.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Dow Chairman and CEO Jim Fitterling and LyondellBasell CEO Bob Patel participated in today\u2019s Wall Street Journal special event \u201cGetting There: A Global Agreement to End Plastic Waste.\u201d They spoke on behalf of the American Chemistry Council and the International Council of Chemical Associations, which represent leading chemical and plastic makers globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The two told the Journal\u2019s Phillipa Leighton-Jones that plastic makers are committed and eager to increase constructive engagement with governments and other stakeholders to advance a circular economy, in which plastics are reused instead of discarded. \u201cSimply put,\u201d said Fitterling, \u201cOur vision is to prevent plastics from entering our environment by achieving universal access to waste collection and reusing instead of discarding plastics.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n They urged support for a resolution at the UN Environment Assembly in February 2022 that would begin negotiations on a global agreement to end plastic waste in the environment. \u201cWe should not confuse the value of plastics with the issue of plastic waste,\u201d said Patel. \u201cThis is a global challenge requiring a global solution. With support from the UN, we can develop a global framework to help us solve this critical issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n To enable their vision, plastic makers have proposed a set of five principles to eliminate plastic waste, accelerate a circular economy for plastics, and serve as the basis for a global agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAll governments agree to eliminate plastic waste leakage into the environment by a specific date and develop regionally appropriate national action plans and policies that allow flexibility based on local circumstances.\n\nAchieve widespread access to waste collection and support deployment of technologies (including advanced recycling) to increase the circularity of plastics.\n\nRecognize the role plastics play in a lower carbon future by supporting life cycle analysis as a means to evaluate impacts of plastics and alternatives.\n\nSupport innovation in product and packaging design by developing, with industry input, global guidance on design, recycled content, and resource optimization.\n\nMeasure progress on plastic waste through globally accepted definitions and reporting metrics, using validated and harmonized methodologies.<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n