Global Plastics Treaty: Moving from a Linear Economy to a Circular Economy | Latest Information | ASUS ESG website, ASUS ESG goal

According to information from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), approximately 400 million tons of plastic are produced globally each year, with about one-third not being properly managed and ending up as waste. More than 11 million tons of plastic waste enter the ocean each year, creating a severe threat to marine ecosystems.

In 2018, Earth Day adopted the theme 'End Plastic Pollution' to raise global awareness and responsibility for plastic pollution. This sparked widespread attention on reducing marine debris and protecting ocean ecosystems. As global consensus on plastic reduction grows, countries are prioritizing policies to reduce single-use plastics and drafting regulations to ban plastic packaging.

In 2022, at the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5), 175 countries jointly adopted a resolution to initiate negotiations for the legally binding Global Plastics Treaty. The treaty aims to manage the entire life cycle of plastics, including reducing plastic production and consumption, promoting the circular economy, enhancing recycling、reuse and measures to prevent plastic waste from entering the environment.

The Global Plastics Treaty further sets ambitious plastic reduction targets, such as reducing plastic waste entering the ocean by over 80% by 2040, cutting total plastic production by 55%, and limiting greenhouse gas emissions from plastic production and waste management to no more than 15% of total emissions. To ensure the treaty’s comprehensiveness and enforceability, the conference brings together key stakeholders—including governments, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, businesses, and academia—to participate in negotiations and establish concrete, actionable plastic reduction goals.

The fifth round of the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations was held in Busan, South Korea, on November 25, 2024. Prior to the meeting, it was anticipated to become the most significant legally binding international environmental treaty since the  Paris Agreement on Climate Change. However, due to significant national interest divergences, consensus was not reached, leading to the decision to convene an additional extended session in 2025 for further discussions. The two primary points of contention were:

1. Restrictions on Plastic Production：The EU, the United Kingdom, and Canada proposed limiting plastic production, arguing that addressing plastic pollution at its source is the most effective solution. However, petroleum-producing nations such as Saudi Arabia and India opposed this approach. Instead, they advocated for amending plastic waste management legislation to strengthen recycling and waste treatment, thereby mitigating the economic impact on the petrochemical industry.
2. Lifecycle Management of Plastics：The EU and other parties suggested establishing a plastic traceability system from production to recycling, providing an "identity card" for plastic products. However, this proposal posed substantial financial and technological challenges for developing countries, making rapid implementation difficult.

Despite the lack of progress in the negotiations, individual nations continue to advance plastic reduction policies. For example, the EU will enforce the Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on Packaging and Packaging Waste on January 22, 2025, requiring plastic packaging to contain a specified percentage of recycled materials. This regulation aims to reduce virgin plastic use and promote resource circularity.

As negotiations on the Global Plastics Treaty progress, industry players, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations are contributing strategies and recommendations for plastic pollution prevention from different perspectives. These viewpoints encompass comprehensive solutions, from source reduction to end-of-life treatment, highlighting the complexities of reaching a unified plastic reduction target under the treaty.

• Reducing and Substituting Plastic Products – Reduce Pollution at the Source
  
  Paper packaging, due to its renewability and high recyclability, has emerged as a preferred alternative to plastic and is widely used in packaging applications. However, for products requiring high-impact resistance, such as precision electronic devices, paper materials face technical challenges in durability and need further improvement. Non-governmental organizations have also raised concerns about large-scale paper packaging use potentially leading to deforestation. They recommend companies source FSC™-certified sustainable wood to ensure supply chain transparency and prevent overexploitation.
• Optimizing Plastic Product Design – Enhancing Reusability and Recyclability
  
  Retailers are reducing single-use plastic waste by adopting circular packaging systems and reusable containers, enhancing plastic recyclability. Companies are also phasing out chemical additives (such as plasticizers and stabilizers) to improve recycled material quality and reduce processing complexity. Innovation and cross-sector collaboration have become common corporate strategies, including the development of natural fibers, biodegradable materials, and novel polymers to replace hazardous components in traditional plastics. These efforts aim to minimize environmental impact at the source and drive the transformation of the plastics industry.
• Advancing Circular Economy in Plastics – Increasing Recycled Plastic Usage to Reduce Pollution
  
  Corporations are embracing circular economy principles by increasing the use of recycled plastics in products. For example, using recycled plastic into electronic device casings and components can lower carbon footprints and enhance sustainability. However, chemical additives in virgin plastics may affect the quality of recycled materials. To address growing demand, the plastics industry must enhance recycling technologies to improve material quality and broaden its reuse applications. Governments are incentivizing the use of recycled plastics through taxation policies. The UK exempts packaging containing over 30% recycled plastic from plastic tax, while Spain offers tax deductions to promote recycled material applications. Non-governmental organizations have cautioned that repeated recycling and thermal processing may degrade plastic’s molecular structure, ultimately diminishing its reuse value and creating new environmental burdens. Thus, tackling plastic pollution requires upstream design optimizations, such as reducing unnecessary additives, enhancing recyclability, and exploring more environmentally friendly alternative materials.
• Amendment of the Plastic Waste Management Act – Legislative Measures to Promote Recycling and Waste Reduction
  
  To address plastic waste, many countries have enacted "Plastic Waste Management Acts", requiring companies to label plastic packaging with recycling classifications and implementing incentive programs to boost recycling rates. Due to the diverse nature of plastics (e.g., PET, PE, PP, PS), improper sorting during recycling can compromise material quality and reduce its reuse value. Governments worldwide are driving packaging material reductions and promoting biodegradable, recyclable, or reusable alternatives for takeaway containers and packaging, aligning with the principles of reduce, reuse, recycle to foster a circular economy.

ASUS extends its product lifecycle model from "cradle-to-grave" to "cradle-to-cradle", forming a "resource -> product -> regenerated resource" circular economy model, aligning with the core principles of the Global Plastics Treaty. In addressing plastic waste challenges, ASUS demonstrates both innovation and responsibility in reducing plastic applications.

Regarding packaging materials, ASUS aims for zero plastic packaging. Since 2020, the company has used FSCTM-certified paper materials and integrated circular design elements. For instance, the Zenbook UX5304 uses plastic-free packaging design, while the Vivobook K6604 utilizes foldable paperboard packaging, which not only reduces plastic consumption but also serves as a laptop stand, enhancing user experience. In product design, ASUS incorporated 829 tons of recycled plastic into its core products in 2023.
 

In cross-sector collaborations, ASUS is actively advancing plastic circularity innovations. The ROG gaming mouse incorporates bio-based resin derived from castor oil, reducing reliance on virgin plastics. Additionally, to enhance plastic recyclability, the ASUS ROG x BATMAN edition smartphone packaging employs expanded polypropylene (EPP), which has a higher recycling rate than expanded polyethylene (EPE). This ensures greater recyclability without compromising quality, reducing plastic pollution risks.

Plastic waste is a global environmental challenge, and the Global Plastics Treaty represents a critical international framework for addressing plastic pollution. It plays a crucial role in advancing full lifecycle plastic management, reducing plastic waste, and promoting the green economy transition. ASUS will continue leveraging innovative technology, design, and collaboration to achieve plastic reduction and circular economy goals, contributing to global environmental sustainability.