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GlobalPublished: 7 February 2026
[Regulatory Update] Global plastics treaty talks: new chair elected at INC-5.3 — moving towards the next stage of substantive negotiations
Source:UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)
In the negotiations towards a legally binding international treaty on plastic pollution, INC-5.3 was held in Geneva on 7 February 2026. Following the resignation of the previous chair, Ambassador Julio Cordano of Chile was elected as the new chair at this session.
However, INC-5.3 was a resumed session dealing with organisational and administrative matters, and no substantive negotiations on the treaty's content took place. UNEP is continuing chair's letters and informal consultations through 2026 in the run-up to INC-5.4.
Editor's View
The plastics treaty is being negotiated as an international framework covering the full plastics lifecycle, not just waste management. As the final regulatory content has not yet been settled, it is more appropriate for companies, at this stage, to focus on understanding their own exposure to plastics — across virgin resin, packaging, recycled materials and product design — rather than making investment decisions premised on specific regulatory requirements. Although the international treaty has not yet been concluded, the plastics-policy debate is broadening from "waste" to "the full lifecycle, including production and design."
※ This article is based on official public information from an external source (UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)) and has been analyzed and organized for practical use.
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