At a time when negotiations on a global plastics pollution treaty are stalling, the role of national leadership and the credibility that comes from domestic action will be under scrutiny at an international research forum today.
Professor Steve Fletcher , Director of the Revolution Plastics Institute at the University of Portsmouth, will chair a session on the progress and outlook towards a global plastics treaty at the Global Research and Innovation in Plastics Sustainability (GRIPS) conference on Wednesday 21 January 2026.
The session comes at a critical time for efforts to tackle plastic pollution. Largely due to geopolitical tensions, industry influence and diverging national priorities, negotiations towards a global treaty are currently in a hiatus. Questions are mounting about whether a robust agreement can still be delivered and what countries like the UK should do if it cannot.
Plastic pollution is a global crisis, but credibility in global negotiations is built at home. The UK has been a leader in calling for a strong treaty. Today we will explore whether domestic policy, regulation and private-sector action are keeping pace with that ambition and why that matters for the outcome of the negotiations.
Professor Steve Fletcher, Director of the Revolution Plastics Institute, University of Portsmouth
Professor Fletcher will lead a panel discussion examining the current state of treaty negotiations, the prospects for re-energising the process, and the extent to which UK domestic action on plastic pollution supports international leadership.
"Plastic pollution is a global crisis, but credibility in global negotiations is built at home," said Professor Fletcher. "The UK has been a leader in calling for a strong treaty. Today we will explore whether domestic policy, regulation and private-sector action are keeping pace with that ambition and why that matters for the outcome of the negotiations."
The session will open with a context-setting presentation from Sam Winton from the Revolution Plastics Institute, outlining the origins, progress and current state of the treaty process. A panel discussion will then bring together voices from across civil society, academia, government and industry.
Panellists include, Dr Charlotte Davies, CEO, Common Seas, Professor Rosalind Malcolm, University of Surrey, Helen Jordan, British Plastics Federation and a representative from Defra.
Discussion will address the political and economic forces shaping the negotiations, the contested role of the plastics industry, and the likelihood of achieving a legally binding outcome. The panel will also consider what failure to agree a treaty would mean for the UK plastics sector, and how domestic implementation can influence the positions of other countries.
