Global Plastics Summit 2023 is the largest gathering of delegates before INC-3 at a forum for multi-stakeholders to work collaboratively towards a robust UN plastics treaty.

Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, Sukhumvit Alley 22, Khlong Tan, Khlong Toei, Bangkok, Thailand

The first Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC1) in 2022 for a UN global treaty to end plastic pollution was constructive but revealed ongoing opportunity gaps in an aspiring whole-of-life cycle plastics agreement. What happens off the negotiating table, as much as on, will determine the success of the treaty. An independent global forum under the Economist Impact banner,

Global Plastics Summit 2023 has been curated to build and sustain momentum for the UN plastics treaty, critically take stock of progress at the half-way stage, and offer a platform for diverse voices to be heard in pursuit of an ambitious treaty. Join the conversation in Bangkok on October 11th and 12th to create a progressive plastics treaty.

Follow #EconGlobalPlastics

Marine Plastic Pollution

More: Cody Mitchell

What Is the Issue?

Our oceans sustain life. An abundant ocean can feed a billion people a healthy meal forever. But now they are being filled and killed by throwaway plastic that seriously threatens ocean health.

Plastic waste is entering our oceans at a staggering rate of 11 million tons of plastic a year. This is the equivalent of one garbage truck full of plastic dumped into the sea every single minute. This amount of pollution will double by 2030 and quadruple by 2050.

Plastic debris is everywhere in our ocean: floating plastics on the surface ocean, mixing in the saltwater, sitting on the ocean bottom, and plastic ingestion by marine species. This impacts deep-sea sediments.

Once in the ocean, it never goes away. Over hundreds of years, it breaks down into small pieces, but those pieces full of toxic contaminants stay in our oceans forever.

Plastic pollution accounts for at least 85 percent of the total marine waste. Most marine debris, about 80 percent, comes from trash and plastic debris urban run-off, i.e., land-based sources like shopping bags, food wrappers, cigarette butts, and water bottles etc.

What Is the Problem with Plastic?

Marine plastic pollution has become a critical challenge of our time and is a global problem. Plastics are the largest, most harmful, and most persistent fraction of marine litter.

Plastic debris threatens ocean and human health, contributes to climate change, and has serious economic and financial implications.

Larger pieces known as macro-plastics accumulate in ocean gyres, wash up on beaches, harm marine ecosystems, and impact coastal communities.