The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has published the revised draft text of the international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. The intergovernmental negotiating committee at its third session (INC-3) had requested the Secretariat “to compile, into a single revised draft text, the merged texts put forward during the session by contact groups 1 and 2 and the outcome document of contact group 3, following the outline of the zero-draft text.”

The document (UNEP/PP/INC.4/3), available as an advance, unedited version, consists of six parts. The first part includes options for the preamble, objective, definitions, principles, and scope.

The second part outlines options covering, inter alia:

• primary plastic polymers;
• chemicals and polymers of concern;
• problematic and avoidable plastic products, including short-lived and single-use plastic products and intentionally added microplastics; and
• micro- and nanoplastics.

It also includes text on: exemptions available to a party upon request; dedicated programmes of work; product design, composition, and performance; and non-plastic substitutes. Options relating to extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes, emissions and releases of plastic throughout its lifecycle, waste management, and trade are also listed. Additional sections tackle: existing plastic pollution; just transition; and transparency, tracking, monitoring, and labeling.

The third part of the draft text relates to financing, capacity building, technical assistance, and technology transfer.

The fourth part covers national action or implementation plans, implementation and compliance, reporting on progress, and periodic assessment and monitoring of implementation progress. Also found in part four are options regarding: international cooperation; information exchange; awareness raising, education, and research; stakeholder engagement; and health aspects.

The fifth part deals with the governing and subsidiary bodies of the future treaty, as well as its secretariat.

Part six includes possible annexes to the instrument that could cover:

• Primary plastic polymers, and chemicals and polymers of concern;
• Problematic and avoidable plastic products, including short-lived and single-use plastic products and intentionally added microplastics;
• Product design, composition, and performance;
• Modalities for the establishment and operation of EPR systems based on common principles;
• Emissions and releases of plastic through its lifecycle;
• Waste management;
• Format of national plans; and
• Effective measures at each stage of plastic lifecycle.

The revised draft text was issued on 28 December 2023, in preparation for INC-4, taking place from 23-29 April 2024 in Ottawa, Canada. [Publication: Revised draft text of the international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment] [Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution] [SDG Knowledge Hub Story on INC-3] [SDG Knowledge Hub Story on INC-2] [SDG Knowledge Hub Story on INC-1]