Agenda Dialogues

New Agreement on Plastics: What Will It Take?

Feb 10, 2025

Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP, joins Hein Schumacher of Unilever and Sarah Lamaison from Dioxycle to discuss a crucial global treaty to combat plastic pollution. They delve into innovative technologies for sustainable plastic production and the vital role of multinational corporations in this transition. Dina Ercilia Boluarte, President of Peru, calls for a balance between plastics in healthcare and environmental responsibility. Insights from Dion Travers George and Alicia Bárcena Ibarra emphasize the collective action needed for effective treaty negotiations.

52:16

Creator website

Episode guests

Alicia Bárcena Ibarra

Dion Travers George

Dina Ercilia Boluarte

Sarah Lamaison

Hein Schumacher

Inger Andersen

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

The global treaty on plastics aims to reduce production and improve recycling through international cooperation, addressing a critical environmental issue.

Businesses play a vital role in advocating for sustainable practices and legally binding commitments to reduce plastic waste and drive economic change.

Deep dives

Achievement of the Global Plastic Action Partnership

The Global Plastic Action Partnership has successfully reached its goal of helping countries implement actions against plastic pollution by 2025, a significant achievement announced at the event. This milestone underscores the importance of collaboration and international cooperation in addressing a pressing global issue. The focus now shifts to a new global treaty on plastics designed to limit unnecessary production, promote recycling, and reduce plastic waste impacting marine environments. The treaty aims to transition towards a circular economy that keeps plastics in use for as long as possible, emphasizing sustainable consumption while mitigating risks to human health and the planet.

Intro

2min

Global Action on Plastic Pollution

16min

Revolutionizing Plastic Production with Renewable Technologies

3min

Navigating the Plastic Treaty Dilemma

10min

The Competitive Drive for Sustainable Practices in Business

2min

Navigating Corporate Sustainability

7min

Confronting Plastic Pollution: A Global Call to Action

14min

In December 2024, over 170 countries gathered to conclude a global treaty to reach a plastic pollution-free world by 2040. While negotiations were inconclusive, the countries sought to complete the process in 2025, highlighting an urgent, time-bound need to bridge remaining areas of divergence. What will it take to land the treaty to end plastic pollution and how can business and government be supported to tackle the issue in the interim? This session, from the Annual Meeting 2025, is linked to the ongoing work of the Global Plastic Action Partnership of the World Economic Forum.

https://www.weforum.org/meetings/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2025/sessions/new-agreement-on-plastics-how-to-make-it-count/

Speakers:

Inger Andersen, Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Hein Schumacher, Chief Executive Officer, Unilever

Sarah Lamaison, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dioxycle

Diana Olick, Senior Correspondent, Climate and Real Estate, CNBC

Dina Ercilia Boluarte, President of Peru, Office of the President of Peru

Dion Travers George, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment of South Africa

Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources of Mexico

This is the full audio from a session at the Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos.

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