From 5 to 14 August, negotiators meet in Geneva to resume the fifth and final round of UN treaty negotiations on plastic pollution. NEPSA is present as part of the Global EPS Sustainability Alliance (GESA), contributing to discussions on how circularity, responsibility, and material performance are reflected in the future global framework.
Delegation and context
NEPSA participates in the delegation through its Director, Chresten Heide-Anderson, who also serves as Vice-President of EUMEPS. He joins:
- Lea Salihovic, EU Policy Manager, EUMEPS
- Alma Lamberti, Styrenics Policy Manager, Plastics Europe
Read the official GESA delegation announcement on EUMEPS’ website:
https://eumeps.eu/eumeps-newsroom/news/gesa-delegation-stands-for-evidence-based-circularity-at-unep-inc-5-2-in-geneva
A treaty with long-term consequences
Although the plastics treaty will be negotiated at global level, its provisions will shape national frameworks, European legislation, and market access for decades to come. For the EPS sector, this includes how recyclability is defined, how responsibility is assigned, and how legitimate circular practices are treated across different regions.
“It is important for the industry to be present at all regulatory levels which have an impact on our licence to operate,” says Chresten Heide-Anderson.
“While UNEP has recognised EPS as recycled at scale and in practice globally, we still see the ‘hard-to-recycle’ claims. As long as that myth persists, it is difficult to discuss EPS sustainability.”
EPS is one of only six polymers that UNEP has formally acknowledged as being recycled in practice and at scale. The aim now is to ensure that this fact is properly reflected in the treaty language—alongside functioning EPR systems, risk-based assessments, and realistic implementation pathways.
NEPSA’s contribution: from circularity in principle to circularity in practice
The Nordic region has several established systems for EPS collection and recycling, driven by industry coordination and extended producer responsibility. These systems are often overlooked in global debates but offer a practical model for scalable circularity.
“We need a treaty that strengthens circularity in practice—not just in principle,” says Chresten Heide-Anderson.
“That means infrastructure, data, and real-world solutions across all materials.”
NEPSA brings this perspective to the Geneva negotiations:
- That recyclability must be judged by real-world performance, not perception
- That material bans can undermine existing circular systems
- That regional variation in infrastructure and climate conditions requires flexible frameworks
- And that circularity is a system outcome, not a packaging choice
What comes next
INC‑5.2 is expected to conclude the technical negotiations. A final treaty text may follow shortly after. What’s at stake is not just plastic waste—but the design of future global rules for how materials are assessed, used, and recovered.
NEPSA supports an outcome that:
- Builds on proven circular solutions
- Strengthens EPR, transparency, and design logic
- Avoids material discrimination that lacks scientific grounding
- And enables countries and sectors to deliver on shared goals through practical action
