How leveraging plastics policy in the Global North could mitigate against pollution in the South

The author argues that the funding gap for waste infrastructure in low-income countries, which threatens the success of the UN Plastics Treaty, can be bridged by leveraging existing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes in the Global North. Specifically, the proposal suggests channelling 10% of the value of EPR certificates—such as the UK's Packaging Recovery Note system—into a fund for certified projects in emerging economies. To ensure integrity, the document advocates for mandatory traceability standards for material flows and waste worker roles, drawing on models from international climate finance like the Clean Development Mechanism. This approach is presented as a proactive, parallel solution that complements official UN treaty negotiations and voluntary private investments.

• The author proposes that high-income countries allocate 10% of the value of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) certificates to fund certified plastic waste management projects in emerging countries. In the United Kingdom, where the value of plastic PRNs bought by brands was approximately £338 million in 2024, this would result in roughly £33-34 million per year for overseas waste infrastructure.
• To ensure transparency and effectiveness, approved international projects must implement mandatory traceability standards that track both material flows and the social role of waste workers. The document suggests using third-party certifications, such as the Zero Plastic Oceans Social Plus standard or Verra’s Plastic Waste Reduction Standard, to verify project credibility.
• The proposed EPR-funded mechanism is designed to complement other financial tools, such as a potential "plastic polymer levy" on virgin plastic resin production, as well as voluntary private-sector investments and World Bank outcome bonds.
• The proposal aims to address the urgent need for financing in low-income countries to prevent plastic leakage, specifically targeting the implementation of Article 11 of the UN Plastics Treaty, which governs financial resources, technology transfer, and capacity-building.

APA

Hadley, O. K. S. (2025). How leveraging plastics policy in the Global North could mitigate against pollution in the South. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/circular-economy/plastics-un-treaty-funding-infrastructure/

Chicago

Hadley, Oliver Kade, Sarah. How leveraging plastics policy in the Global North could mitigate against pollution in the South. World Economic Forum, 2025. https://www.weforum.org/stories/circular-economy/plastics-un-treaty-funding-infrastructure/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Hadley |first1=Oliver Kade, Sarah |title=How leveraging plastics policy in the Global North could mitigate against pollution in the South |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=28 July 2025 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/circular-economy/plastics-un-treaty-funding-infrastructure/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{hadley2025how, author = {Hadley, Oliver Kade, Sarah}, title = {{How leveraging plastics policy in the Global North could mitigate against pollution in the South}}, publisher = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2025}, month = jul, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/circular-economy/plastics-un-treaty-funding-infrastructure/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }