The Global Plastics Treaty must include strict global controls on plastic waste trade

As negotiations on the Global Plastics Treaty (GPT) approach conclusion at INC-5.2, negotiators should align the treaty with the Basel framework but extend it by requiring Basel Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedures for all plastic waste.

by Sedat Gündoğdu, Jim Puckett , Kenan Gedik, Yahya Terzi, Rafet Çağrı Öztürk

Abstract

Global plastic production has more than doubled in the last two decades, driving an increase in transboundary plastic waste trade (PWT). Despite international agreements like the Basel Convention and its 2021 Plastic Waste Amendments (BCPWA), loopholes and uneven implementation persist, enabling significant volumes of problematic and "hidden" plastic wastes to evade intended controls. This North-to-South trade disproportionately burdens weaker economies, leading to environmental injustices often termed "waste colonialism." Three years after implementing the BCPWA, its limitations have become evident, underscoring the need for simpler, stronger, and universally applicable controls.

As negotiations on the Global Plastics Treaty (GPT) approach conclusion at INC-5.2, negotiators should align the treaty with the Basel framework but extend it by requiring Basel Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedures for all plastic waste. While a complete ban on PWT is politically challenging in the short term, universal application of PIC—even to currently uncontrolled categories such as synthetic textile waste and so-called non-hazardous plastics (B3011)—would close definitional gaps, eliminate confusion, and enhance transparency. It would also empower recipient countries to refuse unwanted waste, guarantee environmentally sound management, and criminalize illegal traffic.

Ultimately, effective control over plastic waste trade requires addressing the root problem of  excessive plastic production. Beyond improved trade controls, the GPT must prioritize upstream solutions, starting with significant reductions in plastic manufacturing—particularly targeting the most unnecessary and harmful plastics. 

This peer-reviewed article has been accepted for publication but not yet copyedited or typeset,and so may be subject to change during the production process. The article is considered published and may be cited using its DOI 

10.1017/plc.2025.10005

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by- nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is unaltered and is properly cited. The written permission of Cambridge University Press must be obtained for commercial re-use or in order to create a derivative work.

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published: Cambridge University Press, 6|2025
Keywords: Pollution Control, Policy Tax Instruments, Reuse, Reduce, Repair, Sustainability, Climate, Resource management, Plastics