Plastic treaty – missed opportunity for tobacco control

The fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC5) tasked with developing a legally binding international treaty to end plastic pollution ended on December 1 in Busan, South Korea. Negotiations failed to reach an agreement at this meeting and will continue in 2025. In addition to the immediate ban on cigarette filters, the consideration of public health and environmental issues as priorities was a major concern during these negotiations for stakeholders in the fight against tobacco, including the National Committee against Tobacco, present on site.

More than 170 countries were present from November 25 to 1^er December to finalize a legally binding international treaty to end plastic waste by 2040[1].

Progress, but much remains to be done, particularly with regard to the ban on cigarette filters

Although no treaty text was adopted, more than 100 countries gathered under the High Ambition Coalition (including France and the European Union) supported a strong treaty aimed at drastically reducing plastic pollution at source by targeting problematic plastics.

In the text under discussion, “plastic cigarette filters” are included in an annex of products for which “appropriate” measures must be forwarded by a specific review committee and submitted for adoption at the first Conference of the Parties following the entry into force of the treaty. While the inclusion of cigarette filters is a crucial step in the fight against unnecessary and toxic plastic waste, for anti-smoking advocates, the reference to “made with plastic” is problematic because it gives the impression that so-called biodegradable filters would be legitimate. The associations point out that cigarette butts, regardless of their composition (plastic or non-plastic), contain up to 7,000 chemical substances and are particularly toxic and dangerous for the environment. Furthermore, the “appropriate” measures to which these products are subject in the annex do not necessarily mean a ban.

Anti-tobacco advocates also warn that the creation of a review committee to assess what action to take on identified products could provide an opportunity for the tobacco industry to be an active stakeholder in the process, with the risk of counterproductive "solutions" (such as biodegradable filters) being promoted by manufacturers.

Integrating health obligations into environmental objectives

Tobacco control advocates have stressed the importance of keeping the future treaty free from tobacco industry interference and ensuring that its provisions on plastic pollution do not conflict with existing obligations, particularly under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

Health actors have actively promoted the decision of the last Conference of the Parties of the FCTC adopted last February in Panama concerning one of the provisions of the treaty dedicated to the protection of the environment. This decision called on the negotiators of the plastic treaty and the countries to "coordinate their efforts to combat plastic waste from tobacco products" and to protect tobacco-related environmental policies from the commercial and vested interests of the tobacco industry. They reminded delegates that any involvement of the tobacco industry in solutions to plastic pollution, particularly under the guise of extended producer responsibility (EPR) or corporate social responsibility (CSR), would undermine environmental objectives.

The National Committee against Smoking also stressed to the French and European delegates present that while EPR channels are effective solutions for certain sectors, they are not suitable for tobacco industry products, as illustrated by the case of the eco-organization Alcome. Indeed, the eco-organization, entirely managed by the tobacco industry, places the responsibility for cigarette butt pollution on consumers. The system gives them an opportunity to communicate by offering an image of respectability and legitimate actor. Finally, it places them in a position to form agreements with the various local actors and thereby participate in decision-making.[2].

In a statement, tobacco control advocates, united under the Stop Tobacco Pollution alliance, said they will continue to work with governments, NGOs and international agencies to ensure that the final treaty includes the necessary health safeguards and is fully aligned with global health standards.

©Tobacco Free Generation

AE

[1] Communicated, INC5.2 – An opportunity to have a bold plastic treaty, aligned with health objectives and including pollution from tobacco products, CNCT, published on December 2, 2024, consulted on December 10, 2024

[2] Decryption, Plastic Treaty – The Crucial Intersection of Tobacco Control and Environmental Health, CNCT, published on November 21, 2024, consulted on December 10, 2024