As global leaders prepare for the Fourth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution in Ottawa, concerns are being raised about a significant omission in the draft Plastic Pollution Treaty. Symphony Environmental Technologies Plc, a company specialising in biodegradable plastics, has criticised the current draft for failing to address the fate of plastics that inevitably escape into the open environment.
Michael Laurier, CEO of Symphony Environmental Technologies, voiced support for the treaty’s overarching goals of reducing plastic pollution and environmental harm. However, he emphasised a critical shortfall: “The draft is commendable for focusing on reducing, redesigning, reusing, and recycling plastics, as well as improving waste management. Yet, it completely overlooks the issue of plastics that, for the foreseeable future, will continue to enter the environment and remain there, potentially for decades.”
Laurier advocates for the inclusion of oxo-biodegradable plastics as a solution within the treaty. Unlike traditional plastics, which can persist in the environment and break down into microplastics, oxo-biodegradable plastics are designed to degrade and biodegrade, ultimately being consumed by naturally occurring bacteria and fungi. “These plastics represent a safe alternative,” Laurier explained. “They reduce pollution by ensuring that plastic degrades and leaves no microplastics behind.”
The CEO highlighted the continued necessity of plastic products, particularly in the Global South, where they play a crucial role in protecting food and water from contamination. “The problem isn’t with polyethylene or polypropylene themselves,” Laurier noted. “The issue lies in their persistence in the environment if not properly managed. Given that these materials are by-products of oil—a resource we continue to depend on—it makes sense to ensure they degrade harmlessly if they do escape into the environment.”
Laurier also criticised so-called “compostable” plastics, noting that they are designed to biodegrade in industrial composting facilities, not in the open environment. He cited a recent report from the University of Tokyo, which found that PLA, a type of compostable plastic, does not biodegrade in the deep ocean. “This underscores the inadequacy of relying solely on compostable plastics to address pollution in uncontrolled environments,” Laurier added.
The invention of d2w technology by Symphony Environmental offers a potential solution to this issue. This technology, incorporated into plastic products during manufacturing, enables the plastic to degrade in the open environment and be biodegraded by microbes, thus preventing the creation of persistent microplastics. Laurier stressed the importance of adopting such technologies globally, particularly in regions where waste management systems are less developed.
Laurier pointed out that concerns about biodegradable plastics encouraging littering are unfounded. “The idea that someone who would litter would first check whether a plastic item is biodegradable is unrealistic. Moreover, much of the plastic that ends up in the environment does so accidentally, carried by the wind or other means.”
As the treaty’s negotiators convene, Symphony Environmental is urging them to consider the practical realities of plastic pollution. “We support efforts to improve waste management and prevent plastics from escaping into the environment,” Laurier concluded. “However, until these efforts are completely successful worldwide, it is imperative that plastics be made biodegradable, ensuring they do not persist for decades but instead return to the ecosystem naturally.”
With the stakes as high as ever in the global fight against plastic pollution, the call to close this gap in the treaty’s provisions is timely and urgent. The upcoming discussions in Ottawa will reveal whether these concerns will be adequately addressed.