Expert Advice in 5-Minutes or Less: Thomas Körmendi, CEO, Elopak

Send us a text

The episode focuses on the urgent need for a global plastics treaty, highlighting the breakdown of crucial negotiations in 2024. We explore the implications of this failure, current statistics on plastic pollution, and actions that need to be taken by governments and businesses to foster a more sustainable future. 

• Discussion on the failure of the 2024 global plastics treaty negotiations 
• Alarming statistics on plastic production and recycling rates 
• Importance of a global treaty for tackling plastic pollution 
• The push from businesses for binding agreements and sustainable practices 
• Proposed actionable steps for governments and individuals to reduce plastic use 
• Innovations in product packaging that promote sustainability 
• Emphasis on the need for unified actions to prevent further plastic waste

Full Op-Ed Available Here

Support the show

Connect with Jessica Hunt and the rest of the team at Environment+Energy Leader - LinkedIn l Twitter l Facebook l Instagram l YouTube l BlueSky

Do you have an idea for an episode?
Call for Speakers - Environment+Energy Leader


Like what you hear? We'd love your support! Please share, like, and review our podcast! Use #EELeaderUnveiled
Additional Opportunities to Support

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:09):
Welcome to Sustainability Unveiled, where
we shine a light on the pressingenvironmental issues of our
time.
I'm EcoVoice and today we'rediving into a crucial topic the
failure to secure a globalplastics treaty in 2024.
The failure to secure a globalplastics treaty in 2024.
This perspective comes fromThomas Kermendi, ceo of Elopak,
a global supplier of fiber-basedpackaging.

(00:31):
As a leader in sustainableinnovation, kermendi highlights
the critical importance ofglobal collaboration to tackle
plastic pollution.
Despite some progress this yearin climate financing and
packaging laws, the inability toreach an agreement on plastic
pollution remains one of thebiggest missed opportunities of
the year.
Let's explore why this mattersand what needs to happen next.

(00:53):
What went wrong in Busan?
In 2022, 175 countries agreedon the need for a legally
binding a treaty to tackleplastic pollution.
Yet negotiations during thefifth round of the International
Negotiating Committee INC5,talks in Busan, south Korea,
broke down this year.
Why?
Efforts to cap global plasticproduction, a cornerstone for

(01:16):
meaningful progress, were metwith resistance from a few
nations.
Discussions have been postponeduntil next year, further
delaying action on an issue thatgrows more urgent by the day.
Consider these soberingstatistics Since 1950, nearly 8
billion tons of plastic havebeen produced globally.
Only 10% has been recycled.

(01:36):
Without intervention, plasticwaste is projected to triple by
2040, according to the OECD.
The lack of a global treatymeans national and local efforts
, while commendable, remaininsufficient to address the
scale of the challenge.
Plastic pollution has risen by50% in the past five years,
despite a 60% increase incommitments to tackle the

(01:58):
problem.
Why a global treaty matters?
Plastic pollution is a globalproblem that requires global
solutions.
Here's why leveling the playingfield A cap on plastic
production would ensure faircompetition.
Companies investing insustainable packaging like
paperboard cartons with up to73% fewer greenhouse gas

(02:18):
emissions than plastic bottleswould no longer lose out to
cheaper all-plastic alternatives.
Support for developing nationsMuch of the world's plastic
waste is produced.

(02:39):
Thank you, global treaty isclear.
Over 200 companies, includingWalmart and Unilever, have
called for binding agreements onsustainable production levels.
Businesses want clear, fairrules to drive innovation and
meet consumer demands forlow-plastic alternatives.
What can be done?
The future isn't entirely bleak.
There are actionable steps forgovernments, businesses and

(03:03):
individuals.
Governments adopt and enforcepolicies like caps on plastic
production and incentives forlow plastic alternatives.
Commit to meaningfulcollaboration in future
negotiations.
Businesses continue innovating.
We've seen an explosion of lowplastic products, from hand soap
to laundry detergent, packagedin paperboard Scaling.

(03:38):
These solutions can driveindustry-wide change.
Thank you should serve as awake-up call as we move into 25,
.
The stakes are higher than ever.
The tools and innovations arealready available, businesses
have the will and consumers havethe expectations.
All that's needed is forgovernments to align their
interests and take bold, unifiedaction.
The world can't afford to wasteanother year.

(03:59):
Closing by EcoVoice.
That's it for today's episodeof Sustainability Unveiled.
The road to a plastic-freefuture is long, but every step
counts.
Join me next time as we exploremore insights and solutions for
a sustainable world.
Thanks for tuning in.