02-10-202660
Plastic has become an integral part of modern life. It is widely used in industry, medicine, construction, agriculture, food packaging, and in a wide range of everyday household products. However, the excessive use of plastic products, particularly single-use items, as well as challenges in effectively managing the waste they generate, are placing increasing pressure on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
Today, the issue is not limited to waste accumulating on streets, in rivers, or in seas. The breakdown of plastic into small particles, their spread throughout the natural environment, and their interaction with living organisms make the problem increasingly complex. Therefore, plastic pollution is regarded as a comprehensive global issue closely linked to environmental security, biodiversity, and human health.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), between 19 and 23 million tonnes of plastic waste enter aquatic ecosystems — including lakes, rivers, and seas — every year. Without effective measures, the amount of plastic waste entering aquatic ecosystems could nearly triple by 2040.
Plastic pollution does not recognize national borders. Waste discharged into a river can reach another territory, a sea, or an ocean. Therefore, it is difficult to address this problem through national measures alone.
For this reason, negotiations are continuing within the framework of the United Nations on the development of an international legally binding instrument to combat plastic pollution, including pollution of the marine environment.
From 27 to 30 September 2026, the second informal meeting of Heads of Delegation was held in Bangkok within the framework of the UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC). This dialogue formed part of the preparatory process for the forthcoming INC-5.4 negotiations, with particular attention given to bringing the positions of the parties closer together and seeking common approaches to unresolved issues.
One important point should be emphasized here: the objective is not to eliminate plastic from our lives entirely. The main task is to reduce unnecessary consumption, prevent waste generation, and ensure effective management throughout the entire life cycle of plastic products.
For many years, environmental policy focused primarily on the collection, transportation, and recycling of waste after it had already been generated. The modern approach, however, requires addressing not only the consequences of the problem but, above all, its sources.
How is a product designed? How many resources are consumed in its production? Is it intended for single use, or can it be reused? Can it be recycled after it is no longer needed?
These questions are shaping the new agenda of environmental policy.
In this process, the circular economy model is of particular importance. Its core idea is not to use a resource once and then turn it into waste, but rather to keep products and materials in the economic cycle for as long as possible. UNEP also links measures to combat plastic pollution with the transition towards a circular economy based on the efficient use of resources.
Simply put, the traditional model follows the sequence: raw materials – product – consumption – waste, whereas the circular economy is based on the principle of: raw materials – product – consumption – reuse – recycling – new product.
Another important area is Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
The essence of this approach is that the responsibility of a company that manufactures a product should not end with its sale. It also envisages the producer’s involvement in the collection, recycling, or environmentally sound management of the product after it reaches the end of its use.
Such an approach encourages businesses to consider the environmental consequences of their products already at the initial design stage. For example, reducing packaging weight, using recyclable materials, or creating reusable alternatives to single-use products can become not only economic decisions but also environmental ones.
Thus, the most effective waste policy is to reduce waste generation as much as possible at its source.
The issue of plastic pollution is also closely linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is particularly important in the context of SDG 12 — “Responsible Consumption and Production” and SDG 14 — “Life Below Water”. The efficient use of natural resources, reduction of waste, expansion of recycling, and protection of aquatic ecosystems from pollution are interconnected objectives.
From this perspective, the plastic problem is much broader than an ordinary waste-management issue. It raises questions about how we produce, how much we consume, and what we do with resources after they have been used.
Strengthening environmental requirements does not necessarily mean additional costs for the economy. New requirements can stimulate the development of resource-efficient technologies, environmentally friendly materials, waste-sorting and recycling systems, innovative packaging, and the market for “green” services.
At the same time, such changes require a certain period of adaptation. Enterprises will need investment in new technologies, while the expansion of recycling infrastructure will become increasingly necessary. Some traditional jobs may also undergo changes. Preparing workers for new occupations and making environmentally preferable products economically accessible to the population will likewise become important tasks.
Therefore, environmental policy should not be limited to bans and restrictions alone. It should be implemented in combination with economic incentives, innovation, modern infrastructure, and efforts to raise environmental awareness among the population.
The scale of plastic pollution demonstrates that environmental problems cannot be solved through a one-sided approach. Governments need to establish effective rules, businesses need to move towards resource-efficient and environmentally responsible production, and society needs to develop a culture of responsible consumption.
Most importantly, environmental sustainability should be regarded as a key factor determining the quality of economic development.
This is also where the significance of the ongoing global dialogue on plastic pollution within the framework of the United Nations lies. It is not limited to the question of how to reduce plastic waste, but raises the broader question of how we should produce, consume, and use natural resources in the future.
After all, the essence of sustainable development is not determined solely by indicators of economic growth. Maintaining a balance between human well-being, economic development, and the natural environment is one of the most important responsibilities of the present generation towards future generations.
Sharifova Madinabonu,
Chief Specialist, NGO “Center for Sustainable Development”