The One Planet Network and Plastics

This historic plastics resolution, which agrees to forge an international legally binding agreement by 2024, addresses the full lifecycle of plastic, including its production, design and disposal. It is particularly meaningful to the One Planet Network, as it validates the past years of work bringing the Network together around this extremely important topic. Already atthe 4th session of UNEA in 2019, Member States requested the One Planet Network to develop guidelines for the use and production of plastics in order to inform consumers, incentivize businesses and retailers, and to support governments. To answer that call, the One Planet Network-wide Plastics Initiative was formed in that same year, bringing together stakeholders across five of the six programmes of the Network to implement the Value-Chain Approach. By focusing together on a common methodology, the Network has been able to create a series of powerful tools, resources, and initiatives around plastics. More than 150 different activities (projects, resources, policies, events) have so far been brought together by various One Planet Network stakeholders, with more than 90% of these contributions coming in the last two years. Such an uptick across the Network mirrors the international momentum which has brought us the monumental agreement at UNEA 5.2.  

In particular, there have been a series of flagship efforts from across the One Planet Network programmes which demonstrate the real collective impact of the network. The Consumer Information programme mobilized its network to produce the report "Can I Recycle This?" A Global Mapping and Assessment of Standards, Labels and Claims on Plastic Packaging, which maps existing standards, labels and claims on plastic packaging. The Sustainable Lifestyles and Education programme developed several reports which focus on topics ranging from a review of what works and what doesn’t when it comes to plastic pollution campaigns, to concrete strategies for tackling plastic litter.

The Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (GTPI) coordinated by the Sustainable Tourism programme is one of a kind. This effort unites the tourism sector behind a common vision to address the root causes of plastic pollution. So far, more than 100 organisations have signed on, including industry leaders such as Accor, Club Med, Iberostar, and Booking.com. Signatories are required to take concrete and actionable commitments around elimination of unnecessary and problematic plastics, introduction of reuse models as well as cooperation on value chain level to improve recyclability, compostability as well as % of recycled content in plastic items and packaging that are purchased. In addition, signatories are committing to participate at annual, mandatory reporting process to disclose the progress of implementation of their commitments. In 2021, the first annual reporting cycle of the GTPI compiled the tangible results of these commitments. For example, Accor reported the elimination of 71,577,414 plastic items and packaging in its bathrooms, which amounts to 430 metric tonnes of plastics eliminated.

Through these efforts and so many others, the One Planet Network has worked to bring attention to these critical issues around plastic pollution. This year, with the conclusion of the three-day UNEA-5.2 meeting, 175 governments have taken notice, and have validated and raised the profile of all the work around plastics that is underway across the One Planet Network. The One Planet Network stands ready to provide the knowledge and tools to help countries start managing plastics better, and create the institutional readiness so they are ready to implement the future obligations of this plastics treaty. 

Sustainable Consumption and Production across UNEA 5.2

Besides this specific side-event organized by the One Planet Network, Sustainable Consumption and Production was present throughout many of the other discussions and outcomes. This is a positive sign for the global SCP movement, indicating a growing momentum which may be close to a tipping point, in the minds of the most influential decision makers. the Ministerial Declaration welcomed the extension of the 10YFP mandate until 2030 by the General Assembly, signaling a push by Member States to keep SCP a relevant priority on the international development agenda.

A number of other resolutions which were adopted further boosted the profile of SCP at UNEA 5.2, either through explicit requests to the 10YFP or more indirectly focusing on topics near and dear to the core work of the 10YFP and it’s One Planet Network. The resolution ‘Enhancing Circular Economy as a contribution to achieving sustainable consumption and production’ also welcomed the extension of the 10YFP mandate, and further requested the UNEP’s Executive Director to work with a number of bodies, including the 10YFP/One Planet Network, “to facilitate the collaboration among Member States and Members of specialized agencies in the research, capacity building, knowledge management and sharing of best practices for the promotion of innovative pathways for sustainable consumption and production including circular economy  and to facilitate a conversation on  natural resources and materials in the context of circular economy.” Given the fact that circularity will be integrally woven into the forthcoming global SCP strategy, such a resolution provides an excellent institutional backing moving forward.

A few other resolutions in the cluster around a green recovery and circularity point to the role that the One Planet Network can play in achieving important sustainability goals. The resolution ‘Environmental dimension of a sustainable, resilient and inclusive post COVID-19 recovery’ drives home the point that the damages from this pandemic are deep, and that only through a collective, shared, and unifying response will it be possible to take the necessary steps forward in prioritizing green and sustainable recovery measures. The One Planet Network stands ready to assist these efforts in any way possible, and notably through the pillar of the global SCP strategy currently being developed on leaving no one behind, which will endeavor to provide the right knowledge, tools and solutions to those who need it most.

Another resolution on Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure tackles a sector with which the One Planet Network already has much experience, and one that will continue to be a primary focus moving forward. The second pillar of the global strategy on SCP currently under development, is all about providing game-changing solutions to spark a systemic transformation across different high-impact sectors. These include the built environment, food systems, and tourism, to name just a few. The One Planet Network can look to resolutions such as this one, to identify hotspots and entry points in the buildings and construction sector where relevant knowledge, tools and expertise can be plugged in for the highest impact.  

The One Planet Network, together with the World Economic Forum and the Swedish government, also co-organised an event alongside UNEA entitled ‘Towards Stockholm +50: Transforming Global Value Chains for a Healthy Planet and Prosperity for All’. Having worked extensively on the Value-Chain Approach over the past few years, the One Planet Network was able to provide substantive inputs for the development of the agenda and speakers of this event. The virtual discussion held during the event presented sustainable global value chain initiatives, identified gaps, and explored opportunities to mobilise and scale up existing efforts.

Bringing a Collective Impact through SCP

UNEA 5.2 was an example of multilateral cooperation that works towards a tangible common goal. The historic resolution on plastics sends a powerful message out to the world, well beyond UNEA or the One Planet Network stakeholders. It showcases that there is room to come together across regions and across cultures for meaningful solutions to enormous problems. The One Planet Network is proud to be an integral part of the movement enabling such work,  which brought not only that agreement but a series of adoptions, declarations, and resolutions which had the handprint of Sustainable and Consumption and Production as a guiding principle.