InfluenceMap Investigates Corporate Lobbying on Plastic Treaty
A new report by InfluenceMap reveals that chemical and petrochemical giants like ExxonMobil, Dow Inc, BASF, and SABIC, along with their industry associations PlasticsEurope and the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), have engaged in lobbying efforts to weaken the ambition of the UN Global Plastics Treaty.
InfluenceMap analysed 311 instances of corporate communication on the treaty since March 2022 and found that 93% of unsupportive statements originated from the chemical and petrochemical sectors. The statements have generally advocated for a plastic waste management vision, that prioritises recycling measures while opposing provisions aimed at reducing plastic production – InfluenceMap argues that these narratives would perpetuate the use of fossil-fuel-based plastics and misalign with the scientific consensus, including recommendations from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Example from the report
These findings come just as countries failed to reach an agreement in UN plastic talks. While more than 100 nations wanted to cap production, a handful of oil-producing nations were prepared only to target plastic waste.
InfluenceMap's work underscores the critical importance of transparency and accountability in corporate lobbying. To ensure that corporate influence aligns with achieving a sustainable future, it is crucial that companies act in the public interest and disclose lobbying activities, both direct and through collective channels like industry associations.
On a positive note, InfluenceMap's research shows that the chemical and petrochemical sector's messaging constitutes less than 20% of the overall corporate engagement on the treaty. Companies in the consumer goods and retail sectors, for example, have largely rallied behind an ambitious, science-aligned treaty, advocating for upstream solutions like eliminating problematic plastics, improving product design, and scaling reuse and refill systems.