Compilation of Key Terms Relevant for the Negotiation of a Treaty to End Plastic Pollution

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) provides a comprehensive compilation of existing definitions from Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), international organizations, and regional norms to support the negotiation of a legally binding international instrument to end plastic pollution.

• The document recommends that negotiators use the OECD's definition of 'plastic pollution' as a working basis, which describes it as "Broadly, all emissions and risks resulting from plastics production, use, waste management and leakage".
• CIEL identifies a gap in definitions regarding the upstream stage of the plastic life cycle and proposes working definitions for plastic feedstocks (sourcing extraction phase), plastic precursors (chemical phase), plastic material (material phase Step 1), and plastic products (material phase Step 2).
• The report outlines a full life cycle for plastics consisting of six phases: sourcing/extraction, chemical phase, material phase (manufacturing and consumption), and dematerialization phase (waste management and remediation).
• The compilation provides various definitions of 'plastic', ranging from those focusing on high molecular mass polymers shaped by heat and pressure to those defining it as a synthetic organic polymer.
• The document distinguishes between primary and secondary microplastics, where primary microplastics are designed for direct or indirect use (e.g., microbeads or pellets), and secondary microplastics result from the fragmentation of larger plastic items.
• The report details the distinction between biodegradable and compostable plastics, noting that compostable plastics are a subset of biodegradable plastics designed to biodegrade under controlled industrial composting conditions.
• The document defines 'oxo-degradable plastics' as non-biodegradable plastics containing additives that accelerate fragmentation into micro-fragments, which can remain intact in soil without sunlight.
• The compilation includes definitions for 'Extended Producer Responsibility' (EPR), describing it as a policy approach where a producer's responsibility for a product is extended to the post-consumer or waste stage of its life cycle.
• The report provides definitions for workers in the waste sector, specifically 'waste pickers', who participate in the collection, separation, sorting, transport, and sale of recyclable materials in informal or semi-formal capacities.
• The document includes a section on traditional knowledge, distinguishing between 'Indigenous knowledge' (held by indigenous peoples) and 'traditional knowledge' (a broader category including local communities).

APA

Del Castillo, A., Azoulay, D., & Bonacini, C. (2023). Compilation of Key Terms Relevant for the Negotiation of a Treaty to End Plastic Pollution. Center for International Environmental Law. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Compilation-of-Key-Terms-Relevant-for-the-Negotiation-of-a-Treaty-to-End-Plastic-Pollution_FINAL.pdf

Chicago

Del Castillo, Andrés, David Azoulay, and Cate Bonacini. Compilation of Key Terms Relevant for the Negotiation of a Treaty to End Plastic Pollution. Center for International Environmental Law, 2023. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Compilation-of-Key-Terms-Relevant-for-the-Negotiation-of-a-Treaty-to-End-Plastic-Pollution_FINAL.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Del Castillo |first1=Andrés |last2=Azoulay |first2=David |last3=Bonacini |first3=Cate |title=Compilation of Key Terms Relevant for the Negotiation of a Treaty to End Plastic Pollution |publisher=Center for International Environmental Law |date=28 May 2023 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Compilation-of-Key-Terms-Relevant-for-the-Negotiation-of-a-Treaty-to-End-Plastic-Pollution_FINAL.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{delcastillo2023compilation, author = {Del Castillo, Andrés and Azoulay, David and Bonacini, Cate}, title = {{Compilation of Key Terms Relevant for the Negotiation of a Treaty to End Plastic Pollution}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2023}, month = may, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Compilation-of-Key-Terms-Relevant-for-the-Negotiation-of-a-Treaty-to-End-Plastic-Pollution_FINAL.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }