‘David and Goliath battle’ as talks begin over deal to reduce plastic pollution

The scientist who first raised the alarm over microplastics in the world’s oceans has warned of a “David vs Goliath” battle between scientists and the plastics industry – as delegates begin to negotiate a global deal to reduce plastic pollution.

As United Nations talks begin this week, Professor Richard Thompson, head of the International Marine Litter unit at Plymouth University, said: “We’re seeing some coercion and some pressure being put by some of those that have got conflicts of interest that fear they stand to lose from the treaty progress.”

Representatives of 175 countries will meet in Switzerland today, for what should be a final round of negotiations over a legally binding treaty to reduce plastic pollution.

The United Nations says while some countries are taking action on plastic, pollution is a global problem that needs a global agreement – but there is no official scientific presence at the talks.

Professor Thompson, who is attending the negotiations, said: “We’re only there as observers with a limited capacity to speak, whereas those from the industry have got a massive vested interest. They’re funded to be there. And it’s a bit of a David and Goliath battle.”

He continued: “It concerns me that I see some nations that are taking an increasingly short-sighted view, a view that’s perhaps driven by political cycles or short-run profits.

“You know, we need those leaders of countries, those negotiators, to take the long-term view to protect our planet for future generations.”

More than 430 million tonnes of plastic is produced each year.

But according to environmental charity WWF, around 11 million tonnes end up in the ocean each year as pollution.

And that’s expected to rise to 29 million tonnes a year by 2040.

There is wide consensus among countries that plastic pollution is a problem, but they are split over what to do about it.

The UK and more than 70 other nations that are part of a “High Ambition Coalition” want production and consumption of plastic reduced to sustainable levels.

But major oil producing nations and the chemical industry oppose any cuts.

The previous round of talks, in South Korea last year, collapsed in disagreement.

Professor Thompson is a founding member of the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty.

‘Strong treaty’ still possible

He said previous negotiations have been swamped by lobbyists from the chemicals industry putting pressure on delegates – and that if a good agreement cannot be achieved, leading countries should look to work outside the United Nations framework.

Professor Thompson said: “Given that there are more than 100 nations that are already backing the level of ambition that’s required, I think it could be possible to take this out of the UN process, to have a strong treaty that will function to end plastic pollution, to start with those 100 or 120 or so countries and to add others over time.

“I think there’ll be a realisation for those that aren’t on board initially, that if they don’t join forces with that coalition of the willing, they’re going to suffer in terms of their own international trade and that it’s better to be part of that strong treaty than not to be.”

Plastic is so widely used because it’s cheap, durable and can take many forms. So production of new plastic will only fall if better use can be made of the material that already exists.

The company Project Plan B is working with the charity The Salvation Army to recycle polyester textiles.

They’ve installed the first machine of its kind to turn the material into plastic pellets that can be used to make yarn for new clothes.

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‘Terrible waste’

Just a handful of the pellets is enough to make a T-shirt.

Tim Cross, the director of Project Plan B, said the aim is to make the recycling process a closed loop, so as little as possible escapes as waste or pollution.

“This makes much better use of that plastic,” he said.

“If we’re wasting it and losing it into the environment, that’s a terrible waste, and we mustn’t allow that to happen.”

The UK produces around 700,000 tonnes of textile waste each year. Almost all is landfilled or incinerated.

A major problem is that most clothes are made of mixed materials, which makes it uneconomical to recycle them.

A polyester shirt may have nylon buttons and cotton thread.

But Project Plan B has been working with school uniform maker David Luke on a blazer made completely out of polyester and 100% recyclable.

“These garments normally last on children’s backs for a couple of years and used as goalposts a few times. And then what?” said Mr Cross.

“We wanted to make sure that we can fully recycle the blazer through the system that we’ve got here, so we had to completely redesign it.

“This is groundbreaking, changing the way that clothing can be made.

“When you’ve got something that is recycled and recyclable, you’ve got an instant solution.”