ঢাকারবিবার , ৯ অগাস্ট ২০২৬
Plastic was originally invented for the benefit of humanity. Due to its low cost production, moldability, light weight and durability features- plastic products such as polythene bags and sachets quickly became popular across the world. Globally renowned multinational companies continue to use plastic packaging to ensure convenient product distribution and maximize profits. However, this widespread use of plastic has created serious environmental hazards for all living beings on Earth. These corporations often avoid accountability and instead place the blame on consumers, claiming they lack awareness.
On the other hand, 99% of plastic is made from fossil fuels. Plastic is primarily made from crude oil. After refining, a substance called naphtha is used to produce ethylene and propylene, which are chemically linked to form plastic. These are then melted and shaped into products like bags, bottles, and packaging.
Now, plastic is being produced at a rate 200 times higher than in 1950. Levels of plastic production have grown exponentially over the last few decades. In 1950, two million tonnes were produced; by 2022, that number had risen to 475 million tonnes. About 60% of all plastics are single-use, and only around 10% are estimated to be recycled. From Everest to the sea, even in polar regions, plastic exists everywhere. Every year, 40,000 tonnes of plastic wash into the South China Sea. Additionally, around 172,000 tonnes of plastic enter Bangladesh and eventually flow into the Bay of Bengal. If this pace continues, by 2050, the amount of plastic in the ocean could equal the amount of fish.
Photo: Ali Azman
An estimated five trillion plastic particles are now floating in the oceans, turning them (ocens) into massive plastic landfills. Marine life is being severely disrupted. One in every three fish contains plastic particles. Due to plastic pollution, approximately one million marine birds and 100,000 marine animals die every year. Research projects that by the age of 70, a human may accumulate up to 50,000 plastic particles in their body. These micro- and nanoplastics can disrupt the hormonal and reproductive systems, cause neurological disorders, and contribute to various incurable diseases in both humans and animals. By interfering with DNA and RNA interactions at the cellular level, they may also trigger mutations that can lead to cancer.
Enormous evidence shows how plastic is destroying our planet and its ecosystems. Plastic particles are now being found everywhere, from the highest mountains to the deepest oceans. It is well established that once produced, plastic continues to harm the environment for hundreds or even thousands of years. It does not decompose. Whether it ends up in the sea or mixes with the soil, it degrades the quality of our natural resources and disrupts life at every stage.
To address the immense issue of plastic pollution, the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) set up the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to negotiate a legally binding international treaty to end plastic pollution. The first round of discussions took place in Punta del Este of Uruguay in 2022, marking the official start of the global negotiation process. However, after two years and five rounds of talks held in different countries, no formal agreement has been reached. During the fifth session in Busan, South Korea, last year, a draft treaty text was released, but countries failed to reach consensus on more than 300 key issues. One of the most contentious topics is whether new plastic production should be limited, which remains a major point of disagreement among the negotiating parties.
Major oil-producing countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Russia oppose limiting plastic production. To weaken the treaty negotiations and influence the outcomes in their favor, they engaged lobbyists, with around 200 industry representatives attending the session in Busan last year as negotiators or observers. This number was greater than the delegations from many low-income and small island states. Lobbyists reportedly pushed for voluntary, less restrictive measures and opposed legally binding global rules on plastic production. They focused on waste management and recycling rather than reducing plastic production. At the same time, they failed to reach consensus on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) commitments. As a result, the negotiations have remained unresolved after five sessions.
This is too little, too late. All nations are now calling for an ambitious plastic treaty during the current session in Geneva. The core focus of this session includes cutting single-use plastic production, banning harmful chemicals, setting design standards, and securing adequate funding. Countries around the world do not want a treaty in name only, limited to waste management and recycling. It is now evident that recycling is a false solution, and single-use plastics are responsible for the most severe environmental damages.
Collected from Internet
Bangladesh is actively participating in the global negotiations. As a downstream country affected by transboundary rivers, Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable victims of plastic pollution. Along with advancing the global agenda, Bangladesh will advocate for increased funding to address the additional burden of plastic waste management caused by it’s downstream position.
This year, along with government delegates, technical experts and representatives of affected communities are also participating in the treaty negotiations on behalf of Bangladesh. Prior to departing for Geneva, the Department of Environment held consultations with academics, experts, NGOs, community-based organizations, activists, and victims by plastic pollution to gather practical, ground-level recommendations.
A negotiations continue from 5 to 15 August 2025, in Geneva of Switzerland There is hope that within these crucial ten days, the international community will deliver a legally binding treaty that marks a turning point in the fight against plastic pollution.
Author: Develop Practitioner, Communication Fellow, Break Free From Plastic, And Communication Officer, Grambangla Unnayan Committee
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