Plastic Polymers under the Full Life Cycle Approach: - Key Considerations on the Scope of the Future Plastics Treaty

The Plastics Life Cycle removal of plastics from the environment and the Begins with the Extraction remediation of contaminated ecosystems.3 and Refining of the Raw This approach to the full life cycle has already been Materials and Feedstocks acknowledged in the context of the INC. [...] In broad brushstrokes, plastic production polymers serve as the fundamental building blocks occurs in three main stages: the production and for every plastic material and form the basis of refining of feedstocks from raw materials, the pro- every known plastic product.9, 10 Plastic materials are duction of monomers and other chemicals, and the composed of plastic polymers, chemical additives polym. [...] lets, act as vectors, transporting pathogens and toxins As the production of plastic polymers escalates, so into multiple organisms.62 does the manufacturing of plastic products, leading to an increased presence of secondary microplastics As the production of plastic polymers increases, so in the food we consume, the water we drink, and the does the release of microplastics into the environ- air w. [...] The Minamata Convention aims to protect human health and the environment from anthropo- The INC must operationalize the comprehensive genic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury approach that addresses the full life cycle of plastic compounds (Article 1). [...] Scope and the definition of the full life cycle • The overarching obligation should cover the approach three phases of the production process, mean- ing the production of feedstocks, monomers and • The INC must adhere to the scope indicated by other chemicals, and polymers.