·Release of the "Zero Draft" of the Plastic Convention: Reuse, Recycled Ingredients, Recycling Design, and Producer Responsibility System

In March 2022, the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-3.5) unanimously adopted a historic resolution to end plastic pollution (Resolution 2/5), authorizing an international legally binding instrument to prevent and reduce global polluting plastic pollution by 14. Currently, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) has met twice, and one of the main outcomes of the INC-2024 meeting is that countries mandated the INC Secretariat to prepare a "Zero Draft".

Draft Zero of the Plastic Treaty On September 2023,9, the United Nations published the Draft Zero of the Plastic Treaty (hereinafter referred to as Draft Zero).

In international negotiations, a "zero draft" refers to a preliminary document or draft agreement that has not been substantially revised. It is regarded as the starting point of an official document as a basis for further negotiations and consultations on which the parties can negotiate, debate, revise and refine to form the final version of the agreement or document.

Draft Zero directly determines the specifics and direction of the Plastic Pollution Convention, providing guidance and support for the upcoming INC-4 conference in Nairobi, Kenya, in November 2023.

Part I covers the objectives of the instrument and sets aside placeholders for elements that members may wish to include but were not discussed at the second session, as requested by the Committee at its second session.

The second part covers 2 elements, roughly structured around the life cycle of plastics and plastic products, aiming to solve the problem of plastic pollution. Among them, we can focus on problematic and avoidable plastic products (including short-term and single-use plastic products and intentional addition of microplastics), product design, reuse, use of recycled plastic content, extended producer responsibility, etc.

The industry is particularly concerned about the option of using recycled plastic content, and Draft Zero proposes:

Option 1: Parties shall require that plastics and plastic products produced in their territory and sold in their territory contain a minimum percentage of safe and environmentally sound post-consumer recycled plastics, as contained in part III of Annex C, within the time frame specified in that annex.

Option 2: Each Party shall take the necessary measures for plastics and plastic products produced in its territory and marketed on the market, in accordance with the elements contained in part III of Annex C, to achieve a minimum percentage of safe and sound post-consumer recycled plastics. Measures taken to implement this provision shall be reflected in the national plans communicated in accordance with Part IV.1 [on national plans]

Parts III and IV outline different options for measures aimed at jointly addressing the implementation of the instrument in accordance with paragraphs 3(c) to (p) of UN Environment Assembly resolution 5/14.

4. Parts and are reserved placeholders.

5. Attachments

The Plastics Convention will bring a sea change to the industry! Our vital interests are at stake in policy. November 2023, 11·Ningbo, Zhejiang· ChinaReplas7 (Autumn) The 2023th China Plastic Recycling and Recycling Conference - Policy Chapter will give you a detailed explanation:

1. International geopolitical conflicts, interpretation of the general trend of Sino-US games

2. Interpretation of the impact of the 12 possible core obligations of the international convention on ending plastic pollution on the industry

3. Analysis of the zero draft of the International Convention on Ending Plastic Pollution (INC3 pre-conference document analysis)

4. Research and judgment on the major reform process of China's national control of plastic pollution

5. Analysis of the trend of producer responsibility and stakeholder responsibility system of plastics in packaging, automobiles, home appliances and textile industries

6. EU Carbon Border Adjustment Tax, Plastic Recycling and Carbon Footprint, Carbon Trading (CCER, PHCER, VCS) – Intertek

7. Investigation report on marine plastic recycling - China Fishing Vessels, Fishing Machines and Fishing Gear Industry Association & China Synthetic Resin Association

8. Pre-inspection service for imported recycled plastics - Ningbo Customs Technology Center