Innovators Speak Up at INC-3 Plastic Treaty Negotiations

With the third session of the United Nations-led International Negotiating Committee (INC-3) recently wrapping up, there’s plenty of work remaining to reach an agreement on a Global Plastics Treaty.

In this Waste360 Q&A, Peter Wang Hjemdahl, co-convener of the Innovation Alliance for a Global Plastics Treaty (IAGPT) and co-founder of rePurpose Global, discusses highlights, including points of contention. And he explains how innovation and technology can fit into the picture of a working plastics pollution solution.

Waste360: Can you update us on what transpired at INC-3?

Hjemdahl: Negotiations started on a positive note with a comprehensive zero draft on plastic pollution that resonated with a broad range of stakeholders. Key discussions encompassed a full lifecycle approach to plastic pollution and included:

However, the trajectory shifted as member states introduced numerous alternate texts, expanding the original 31-page document to over 100 pages, without establishing a mandate for intersessional work.

The significant presence of industry lobbyists overshadowed national delegations and civil society, limiting input opportunities for frontline communities, innovators, and indigenous representatives.

Overall, INC-3 highlighted both missed opportunities and areas of promising progress, emphasizing the complexities and challenges in global environmental negotiations.

Waste 360: What do you believe lies in store for INC-4?

Hjemdahl: Despite these challenges, INC-4 holds promise, with a majority advocating for an ambitious Treaty addressing plastic production, just transitions for marginalized informal waste worker communities, and nearly universal support for a financing mechanism to assist Global South countries in developing effective waste management systems.

The revised zero draft, expected by year's end, could provide a solid foundation for future negotiations in Ottawa.

Waste360: Who was at the negotiations table and where was there divergence in opinions?  

Hjemdahl: The stakeholders at the Treaty negotiations table include Member States representing governments, international governmental organizations (IGOs), trade associations, business groups, industry lobbyists, oil and gas companies, advocacy groups, consumer brands, non-governmental organizations NGOs), and a minor representation of waste worker alliances and innovators/solutionists.

Divergence in opinions became apparent on certain points, such as upstream measures like production cuts, strategies for reuse and refill, and others. Unfortunately, the scope of the Treaty remains unclear, with a lack of consensus on overarching goals and alignment on intersessional topics. Concerns exist about limited formal progress and the absence of a mandate for intersessional work or the development of a new version of the Treaty text.

While there has been discussion on critical issues, including a shared vision for reducing plastic production and the importance of a circular economy approach, achieving consensus on specific measures and the overall scope of the Treaty has proven challenging.

Waste360: Tell us about your cross-sector alliance. What are you trying to accomplish?

Hjemdahl: The IAGPT emerged through the collaborative efforts of rePurpose Global and The Ocean Cleanup following their participation in INC-1 in Uruguay in 2022. The initial round of Treaty negotiations witnessed numerous demands but a notable scarcity of viable solutions. Among the 1,000+ delegates at INC-1, diverse groups, ranging from advocacy organizations to the petrochemical lobby, were present, but only a handful represented actual solutions against plastic waste. This stark absence of solutionists prompted the formation of the IAGPT. We recognize that a plastics Treaty negotiation without active involvement from innovators risks producing text that may sound promising on paper but fails to empower solutions that are actively addressing the issue on the ground.

Bringing together over 100 innovators from across the globe focused on areas including reuse and refill, alternative materials, philanthropies, recycling AI and technology firms, startup incubators, pollution cleanup, academic institutions, and waste worker organizations, the IAGPT strives to amplify crucial perspectives from those at the forefront of tackling global plastic waste. Its primary objective is to ensure that the Global Plastics Treaty lives up to its potential by incorporating a diverse range of insights. With a mission focused on advancing innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, the IAGPT aims to catalyze systemic change throughout the plastic pollution lifecycle, from source to sea.

Waste360: What big change do you see possible through innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship?

Hjemdahl: Advancing the role of innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship in Treaty negotiations involves integrating context-appropriate solutions and creative approaches to effectively address the challenges of plastic pollution. The concept recognizes that traditional measures have proven not to be sufficient and embracing new ideas, technologies, and business models is essential for comprehensive and lasting change.

Thousands of creative solutions to the plastic pollution crisis exist. Many of these solutions have emerged in the last few years, rapidly scaled up, and have demonstrated immense potential in reducing plastic waste. There is now an indisputable case that innovation-led systems change lies at the heart of tackling the plastic pollution crisis.      

However, this innovation ecosystem has largely developed out of sight from national and global policymakers. Past international environmental agreements have too often left out the perspectives and needs of these key players. This limits the potential for engagement with emerging solutions and means that we are missing out on valuable opportunities to create future-proof regulatory frameworks.

Waste360: What have Alliance members already done and learned that can be brought to the negotiations table?

Hjemdahl: Alliance members bring extensive practical experiences and valuable insights, actively implementing reuse/refill models, behavior change strategies, and community-based waste management operations. Their expertise extends to deploying outcomes-based financing, ensuring tangible on-the-ground impacts.

Members have contributed significant data on waste management, using track and trace technology to identify plastic leakage hotspots. Additionally, they've delved into developing alternatives like seaweed. These practical initiatives showcase the Alliance's capacity to bring field-tested solutions to the Global Plastics Treaty discussions.

Waste360: What conversations transpired around innovation and technology?

Hjemdahl: During the conference, the IAGPT Secretariat delivered an official statement in contact group 2 (under a section on financing). The statement emphasized the necessity for innovative financial mechanisms within the Treaty, highlighting the crucial role of innovation in addressing plastic pollution.

Additionally, Alliance members engaged in bilateral conversations with several governments. These discussions extended to accredited NGOs and IGOs, focusing on the role of innovation and financing avenues crucial for expanding innovation.

Prior to INC-3, the IAGPT collaborated with the Nairobi Group of Friends, a coalition of Member States led by Chile and Portugal, to co-host a webinar series, providing a platform for discussions and insights exchange between policymakers and field innovators. The series focused on the barriers and gaps for innovation and solutions at the policy level and the role of financing to scale up innovations.

Waste360: Where would you like to see funds allocated?

Hjemdahl: The IAGPT would like to see funds deployed via innovative financial schemes that provide rapid and flexible financing for scaling of solutions on the ground with an emphasis on environmental and social safeguards. Innovative financial schemes can encompass outcome-based financing instruments, payment for ecosystem services, impact bonds, and debt swaps.

Waste360: What do you see transpiring at INC-4 as a result of the Alliance’s feedback?

Hjemdahl: We would like to see a continued focus on our proposals and ideas such as organizing an innovation showcase to build greater awareness and engagement with innovators. This platform would provide an opportunity to highlight and share innovative solutions, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among stakeholders.

We advocate for the integration of innovative financial mechanisms, such as those I mentioned earlier: the payment for ecosystem services, impact bonds, and debt swaps. This integration can significantly enhance the pace, effectiveness, and scale of resource mobilization and utilization for combating plastic pollution.

We recommend establishing clear and focused Treaty goals. Defining targets that facilitate the advancement of solutions would help provide a roadmap for collective efforts. These goals and targets should be designed to comprehensively address plastic pollution across its entire lifecycle.

Collectively, these measures aim to catalyze a more impactful and coordinated global effort in the fight against plastic pollution, leveraging innovation, financial strategies, and well-defined goals for the benefit of both present and future generations.

Waste360: Can you speak to the Alliance members’ potential role in accelerating systems change?

Hjemdahl: The Innovation Alliance aims to serve as a crucial bridge - connecting innovation to policymaking, and breaking the silo between these two essential ecosystems. Only by actively including innovators in the decision-making processes for national, regional, and international regulation, can we ensure collective progress towards a future free from plastic pollution. By fostering collaboration and integration, the Alliance aims to catalyze meaningful change at every stage of the plastic pollution lifecycle.