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ARTICLE · 23 NOVEMBER 2022

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COP27: Is This The Beginning Of The End For Single Use Plastics?

Gowling WLG
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he issue of problematic plastic waste proved an important area of discussion at the UN's Climate Summit COP27. Many of the meaningful policies and commitments that have been the focus...

United KingdomEnvironment
Ben Sasson
Ben Sasson
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The issue of problematic plastic waste proved an important area of discussion at the UN's Climate Summit COP27. Many of the meaningful policies and commitments that have been the focus of previous climate summits have prioritised combating carbon. Looking ahead, however, plastics pollution is thought by many to require a much greater international focus and collaboration. In this article, we look at the current areas of focus internationally to help reduce plastic waste and summarise the key pieces of UK legislation relating to this subject.

New goals for reducing plastic waste

A UK team of experts who advise the United Nations, G20 and World Bank has called for a zero target to be set for new plastic pollution by 2040. Part of that team includes Professor Steve Fletcher who has said: "A system change needs to arise that fundamentally alters the way we behave and interact with plastic". In addition, Miho Shirotori, the United Nations Conference on Trade and

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