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July 29, 2025
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Corporate Circular Economy Sustainability

No Time to Waste: Why We Support Harmonized Regulation to End Plastic Pollution

By Stefan Doboczky, Borealis CEO

Image: INC 5.2. There's no time to waste.

© Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty

As the final round of negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty approaches at INC 5.2 in Geneva, Switzerland, the stakes are high. Delegates from around the world are working to agree on a legally binding framework to end plastic pollution. The outcome will shape how governments and industries tackle one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.

The message from the business is clear: harmonized regulation is not just necessary, it is smart economics.

Stefan Doboczky 002 2024 Borealis

“At Borealis, we’ve long championed circularity. Through innovation and partnerships we’ve shown that sustainable plastics solutions are possible. However, to scale these solutions globally, we need a level playing field.”

Stefan Doboczky, Borealis CEO

Why Harmonized Regulation Matters

Fragmented national measures won’t get us there. They raise costs, create uncertainty, and slow down innovation. Harmonized regulation, on the other hand, drives consistency while respecting national priorities.

  • A treaty with harmonized rules can*:
  • Double revenues generated by Extended Producer Responsibilities (EPR) between 2026 and 2040
  • Increase the availability of recycled content by 77%
  • Reduce mismanaged plastic waste by 23%
  • Create stable jobs, especially in waste management
  • Lower the cost of capital and improve investor confidence

Business Is Ready

More than 290 companies and institutions, including Borealis, have endorsed the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty. Together, we support a treaty that:

  • Promotes design for circularity
  • Implements Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR),
  • Phases out problematic plastics with low recyclability
  • Ensures that the shift toward a circular plastics economy benefits all stakeholders fairly, especially those who are most vulnerable to economic and social disruption.
  • This is not about one-size-fits-all. It’s about common goals with flexible implementation, a principle that also aligns with Borealis’ approach to sustainability.

Borealis in Action

We’re not waiting for regulation to act, we are already driving change. Our recent milestones include:

These efforts show what’s possible when business leads. However, to unlock full potential, we need policy to catch up.

A Call to Action

The science is clear. The feasibility is proven. The time is now.

We urge all UN Member States to work toward an ambitious, effective treaty at INC 5.2. Harmonized regulation is the most efficient path to a cleaner, more circular future.

Let’s not waste this opportunity!

* The modelling used for findings quoted in this article was undertaken by Systemiq on behalf of the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty. Explore the study’s methodology here.

This blog post is also available in German language.