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Towards a UN Plastics Treaty: Barriers and a Path Forward After INC 5.2
As the process for a UN Plastics Treaty continue, after a tumultuous INC 5.2, countries must now address the significant barriers to progress by minimizing conflicts of interest and enacting voting procedures on substantive matters.
4 policy solutions cities and states are using to tackle the microplastics problem
Some U.S. states and localities have established initiatives to address microplastic pollution that are starting to influence policymakers in Washington.
Weeks after launching new statewide recycling program, Oregon sued by wholesalers
The industry group National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors claim Oregon’s Recycling Modernization Act passed in 2021 and implemented in July 2025 is unconstitutional
UN Plastics Treaty: What to Watch for at INC-5.2
Negotiations for a UN Plastics Treaty resume in Switzerland August of 2025. The draft text outlines key divergences in country positions. Decisions on these key articles will determine if the treaty can effectively address plastic pollution.
Bagged and Gagged: The Battle Over Plastic Ban Preemption
Earth Day summarizes plastic bag bans in the U.S. and the issue of pre-emption, or bans on bans, and how they affect plastic pollution.
Policy Success: Fees and Bans on Plastic Bags Reduce Beach Trash
Despite a piecemeal approach to regulations aimed at limiting plastic bag use existing in the United States, research shows that plastic bag regulations do help limit the number of plastic bags found polluting beaches.
How States Are Taking Toxic Chemicals Out of Food Packaging and Leading the Nation Toward Safer Solutions
Safer States outlines how U.S. states are adopting policies to eliminate EDCs and other chemicals of concern in food packaging, creating momentum for safer alternatives.
UN Adopts First-Ever Resolution Recognizing the Link Between Plastic Pollution, Ocean Protection and the Right to a Healthy Environment
The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) announces it welcomes the United Nations Human Rights Council’s adoption of a resolution on the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment focused on ocean protection and plastic pollution.
Indonesia’s Ban on Importing Plastic Waste Met With Cautious Optimism From Campaigners
Indonesia banned waste imports in 2025. Experts weigh in on the impacts of the new ban.
After years of concerns raised by scientists, EU has banned Bisphenol A from contact with food
A European Union regulation banning use of bisphenol A (BPA) in food contact materials officially took effect in January 2025, in an attempt to minimize exposure to the harmful endocrine disruptor.
