Schneider Electric: A Call for a Paradigm Shift in Plastics

The mood among sustainability leaders is quite somber following a disheartening outcome at the INC-5 Summit in Busan, South Korea.

The much-anticipated event, tasked with forging a global plastics treaty, concluded without achieving its goal.

The summit saw the convergence of representatives from 200 countries, all backed by their top negotiators.

But despite the high stakes and extensive preparations, the negotiations did not culminate in the adoption of a treaty.

It is now agreed that a fresh summit will be convened next year, which will work from a draft text developed over the course of INC-5.The draft text from the Busan summit continues to stir controversy.

Many argue that no deal was a better outcome than a toothless agreement.

From the onset, there was a pronounced division between countries pushing for stringent measures and those whose economic interests are closely tied to ongoing demand for fossil fuel-derived plastics.

In a notable alignment during the summit, more than 100 nations rallied behind a proposition led by Panama.

This initiative sought a global commitment to slashing plastic production to 'sustainable levels'.

However, this proposition faced considerable opposition.

Notably, Saudi Arabia spearheaded a counter-movement, backed by other oil-rich and plastic-producing nations, which effectively stymied proposals that might curtail plastic production dramatically, bearing in mind that the majority of plastic is synthesised from oil or natural gas.

Business perspective also weighs in heavily on these developments. Christophe de Maistre, Segment President for Energies and Chemicals at Schneider Electric, shares his insights following the conclusion of the talks. He stresses on the imperative to progress towards circularity, even in the absence of the treaty.

Q. Following Busan, how can our approach to plastics change?

Unfortunately, nations have not been able to reach a significant agreement on The United Nations Global Plastics Treaty after the fifth round of negotiations.

With less than 10% of the plastic produced globally being recycled since 1950, it's evident that our approach to consuming and disposing of plastics must change.

However, plastic recycling is just one half of the problem. With plastic production now responsible for four times more greenhouse gas emissions than the aviation industry, reducing single-use plastic production is of the utmost importance, and this must be met alongside improved recycling efforts.

Q. Are there ways, without a treaty, to drive circularity?

Even without the treaty in place, we must expedite our progress toward circularity.

Our initial focus should be on integrating seamless connections to recycling facilities within our infrastructure and supply chains while enhancing sorting techniques through innovations like AI and embedded digital product watermarks.

To bolster circularity further, this process must be met with the implementation of advanced chemical recycling methods and improved mechanical recycling.

Q. You want to see a ‘paradigm shift’. Can you explain it? 

Many existing tools available today can help make sustainable plastic recycling a reality, especially when combined with new technologies like software-defined automation for example, which offers the flexibility needed to respond to a dynamic market, allowing for rapid adjustments in operations to enable it to scale.

Furthermore, industry and businesses at large should also look to limit the consumption of single-use plastics.

At Schneider Electric, we are committed to realise 100% of our primary and secondary packaging, free from single-use plastic and use only recycled cardboard by 2025.

To achieve this requires a systemic shift from the traditional linear model of "take-make-dispose" to a regenerative approach that involves designing and utilising products that are durable, repairable and recyclable.

Encouraging this paradigm shift in industry, alongside driving collaboration to support the growth of the advanced recycling sector, will be key to reducing plastic consumption and waste.

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