The global plastics treaty: why is it needed?

The goal of this comment is to influence the drafting of the UN Global Plastics Treaty.

Endless increases in plastic production, use, and disposal endanger health and create social injustices. The disease and premature death caused by plastics result in health-care costs and productivity losses totaling at least US$1·2 trillion annually. On March 2, 2022, the UN Environment Assembly adopted a historic resolution to develop a global plastics treaty. The goal of this Treaty is to reduce plastic pollution, including ocean pollution and microplastics, across the entire plastic life-cycle.

This comment summarizes the impacts of plastics across their lifecycle and the recommendations from the Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health.