Options for Trade-Related Cooperation on Problematic and Avoidable Plastics: Building on Existing Experiences with Single-Use Plastics

The document argues that fragmented national approaches to plastic pollution are insufficient and calls for coordinated international trade-related action. It proposes a framework for categorizing single-use plastics based on their environmental impact and technical feasibility of substitution. Key recommendations include developing common guiding criteria for 'problematic' plastics, implementing trade-related control measures such as import/export bans and tariffs, and promoting eco-design and non-plastic substitutes. The brief highlights the roles of the WTO's Dialogue on Plastics Pollution (DPP) and the International Negotiating Committee (INC) for the plastics treaty as primary vehicles for this cooperation, while also suggesting the involvement of the WCO and ISO to improve trade transparency and standards.

• Single-use plastics represent a significant portion of global plastic production and environmental leakage; in 2019, they accounted for 35% of the 376 million metric tonnes of plastics produced, with 130 million metric tonnes destined for packaging.
• The document identifies three primary approaches used by regulators to classify single-use plastics: a product-specific approach focusing on local/regional environmental challenges, an open-ended approach using examples or criteria, and an approach based on specific categories and subcategories.
• Proposed criteria for identifying problematic plastic products for elimination or restriction include high propensity for littering, presence of microplastics, use of oxo-degradable plastics, and lack of practical recyclability or compostability at scale.
• Trade-related policy measures (TrPMs) targeting single-use plastics between 2009 and 2021 were dominated by bans and prohibitions, which constituted two-thirds (60 of 93) of the measures.
• The authors recommend a tiered approach to action: immediate or near-term elimination for unnecessary items with affordable substitutes (e.g., food take-out packaging, balloons, cutlery), medium-term action for items requiring substitute development, and special considerations for public health applications.
• Trade-related cooperation options include the use of import and export bans, tariffs, environmental fees, and government procurement arrangements to discourage single-use plastics and encourage eco-design and reuse.
• To facilitate the transition to non-plastic substitutes, the brief suggests reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers, eliminating subsidies for fossil fuels and virgin plastics, and increasing aid for trade for developing countries.
• The document emphasizes the need for cooperation with the World Customs Organization (WCO) to amend the Harmonized System (HS) codes to better disaggregate and track single-use plastics and their packaging.

APA

Sugathan, M., & Birkbeck, C. D. (2023). Options for Trade-Related Cooperation on Problematic and Avoidable Plastics: Building on Existing Experiences with Single-Use Plastics. Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs. https://lyrical-cormorant.files.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Publications/TESS-Policy-Paper-Trade-Related-Cooperation-on-Single-Use-Plastics.pdf?dm=1700660892

Chicago

Sugathan, Mahesh, and Carolyn Deere Birkbeck. Options for Trade-Related Cooperation on Problematic and Avoidable Plastics: Building on Existing Experiences with Single-Use Plastics. Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs, 2023. https://lyrical-cormorant.files.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Publications/TESS-Policy-Paper-Trade-Related-Cooperation-on-Single-Use-Plastics.pdf?dm=1700660892.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Sugathan |first1=Mahesh |last2=Birkbeck |first2=Carolyn Deere |title=Options for Trade-Related Cooperation on Problematic and Avoidable Plastics: Building on Existing Experiences with Single-Use Plastics |publisher=Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs |date=November 2023 |url=https://lyrical-cormorant.files.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Publications/TESS-Policy-Paper-Trade-Related-Cooperation-on-Single-Use-Plastics.pdf?dm=1700660892 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sugathan2023options, author = {Sugathan, Mahesh and Birkbeck, Carolyn Deere}, title = {{Options for Trade-Related Cooperation on Problematic and Avoidable Plastics: Building on Existing Experiences with Single-Use Plastics}}, institution = {Forum on Trade, Environment, \& the SDGs}, year = {2023}, month = nov, url = {https://lyrical-cormorant.files.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Publications/TESS-Policy-Paper-Trade-Related-Cooperation-on-Single-Use-Plastics.pdf?dm=1700660892}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }