GESA Delegation Stands for Evidence-Based Circularity at UNEP INC-5.2 in Geneva

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Written by: Ingrid

Category: News

Published: 29 July 2025

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• Recycling EPS
• Advocacy
• Circularity of EPS Packaging
• Recycling EPS Packaging
• Advocating for EPS Packaging

• Links:
  • Link title: Learn more about the circularity of EPS packaging, Link URL: https://eumeps.eu/topics-packaging/circularity-of-eps-packaging
  • Link title: Smart Packaging Europe, Link URL: https://eumeps.eu/home-packaging
  • Link title: GESA (Global EPS Sustainability Alliance), Link URL: https://globaleps.org/
  • Link title: Plastics Europe, Link URL: https://plasticseurope.org/sustainability/

From 5 to 14 August 2025, the resumed fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) on the global plastics treaty is taking place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. EUMEPS, as a member of the Global EPS Sustainability Alliance (GESA), is participating in the discussions alongside other industry actors. Representing the EPS value chain are Lea Salihovic (EU Policy Manager, EUMEPS), Alma Lamberti (Styrenics Policy Manager, Plastics Europe), and Chresten Heide-Anderson (Director, NEPSA – Nordic EPS Alliance and Vice-President of EUMEPS).

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Background and Context

The negotiations aim to develop a legally binding international treaty to address plastic pollution across its entire lifecycle. While the treaty is global in scope, its provisions will influence regional frameworks and industrial operations for decades. For the EPS sector, participation is about ensuring that existing circular practices—such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes and high-performance recycling, material design efficiencies, and clean production technologies—are recognised in the final outcome.

GESA has been active throughout the treaty process, contributing data and use-case evidence that highlight the recyclability, functionality and environmental performance of expanded polystyrene. EPS has a proven track record in terms of recyclability and performance in key sectors. In recent months, UNEP acknowledged that EPS transport packaging is recycled in practice and at scale globally, alongside only five other plastic materials with this level of recognition. These discussions are a valuable occasion to ensure such realities are reflected in the global framework and that industry efforts on circularity and transparency are fully considered.

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Lea Salihovic
EU Policy Manager, EUMEPS

In your view, why is it important for European industry associations like EUMEPS to participate in high-level UN discussions on plastics and sustainability, such as UNEP’s INC-5.2?
It is essential for European industry associations to observe global negotiations to ensure the optimal framework to strengthen circular solutions for our material, which can be implemented globally. We aim for innovative policies that ensure EPS can contribute to achieving global climate objectives and facilitate recycling rates of 90%+. EUMEPS brings valuable expertise from across the EPS value chain, promoting solutions that are evidence-based and regionally adapted. Our involvement helps avoid regulatory fragmentation and ensures that sustainability targets can be achieved without compromising Europe’s innovation capacity or industrial resilience.

What are your key expectations from the UNEP INC-5.2 meeting in Geneva?
We call for a treaty that is internationally coordinated yet regionally coherent, one that respects the progress achieved under established European legislation while enabling effective global alignment. The focus must be on implementable and enforceable measures such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), material design efficiencies, and clean production technologies. Negotiators should prioritise functionality and risk-based criteria over blanket material bans, allowing for continued innovation, safe use, and targeted impact reduction.

A science-driven approach that distinguishes between harmful applications and essential, circular uses of materials will be key to a credible and effective global plastics treaty. Additionally, global discussions must focus on applications ending up in the environment, not materials in isolation. A simplistic material-substitution approach risks shifting the problem rather than solving it, especially when single-use functions are merely replicated using different materials with equal or worse environmental impact. Discriminating against materials without considering lifecycle performance, utility, or recyclability undermines genuine progress towards circularity.

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Alma Lamberti
Styrenics Policy Manager, Plastics Europe

Why is it important to be involved in UN-level negotiations?
Participation in high-level UN discussions is of key importance for industry associations such as EUMEPS, as it is the only way to ensure that the voice of the styrenics—and specifically the EPS value chain—is heard and taken into consideration when shaping global sustainability frameworks. Foundational decisions are taken during UN-level negotiations—decisions that will influence regulatory landscapes, market access, and innovation pathways for decades to come. By engaging directly, EUMEPS can advocate for science-based and proportionate policies that reflect the reality of EPS production and recycling in Europe. Direct participation also allows us to counter misinformation and contribute to the creation of a treaty which is both ambitious and implementable.

What is your view on how EPS is perceived in these discussions?
Despite its proven recyclability and essential role in key sectors, EPS is often misunderstood and its qualities overlooked. In recent months, UNEP itself acknowledged that EPS transport packaging is recycled in practice and at scale globally, alongside only five other plastic materials. Global discussions should better reflect this reality and take greater account of the industry's progress on circularity and transparency.

What do you hope to see at the end of INC-5.2?
The upcoming INC-5.2 session in Geneva is a key moment in the treaty process, where a long-awaited agreement on a Global Plastics Pollution Treaty is expected. My hope is that we will reach 15 August with a balanced and evidence-based treaty text that recognises material and country–specific realities and avoids restrictions driven by incomplete data. I also hope to see stronger recognition of the styrenics industry, with its key applications, high recyclability, and continued efforts to improve environmental performance.

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Chresten Heide-Anderson
Director, NEPSA – Nordic EPS Alliance; Vice-President, EUMEPS

Why does the industry need to be present at INC-5.2?
It is important for the industry to be present at all regulatory levels which have an impact on our licence to operate.

What should be better recognised about EPS?
While UNEP has recognised EPS as recycled at scale and in practice globally, we still see the "hard-to-recycle" claims. As long as that myth persists, it is difficult to discuss EPS sustainability. EPS is used in essential applications and is subject to established collection and recycling systems in many regions, which supports its role in a more circular plastics economy.

What are your hopes for the meeting?
I don't have expectations, but I hope for a fact-based treaty that addresses the challenges of plastic pollution in general and increases EPS recycling by strengthening EPR.

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Conclusion

The participation of EUMEPS within the GESA delegation at INC-5.2 reflects a broader commitment to ensuring the global plastics treaty is grounded in technical evidence, not assumptions. By engaging directly, EUMEPS promotes regulatory consistency, supports effective circular systems, and calls for recognition of EPS’s real-world performance. A treaty that reflects these realities is more likely to deliver lasting environmental outcomes, without undermining material functionality or Europe’s industrial capacity.