For large oil-producing countries and companies, the existence and development of the plastics industry, which acts as a buffer against economic fluctuations, is a fundamental issue. The plastics industry, which processes petroleum derivatives, is primarily supported by major oil-producing countries and companies. Their bargaining power is enormous, and this has decided the debate at the UN conference on reducing plastics, as it always has, overriding the demands of countries calling for a reduction in plastic production. These are the developing countries to which developed regions simply shift the now unimaginable amount of plastic waste.

Plastic production will therefore not be reduced globally in the foreseeable future. Thus, only by reducing plastic waste do we have a chance of avoiding a global plastic waste disaster. So we have our work cut out for us!

September 4, 2025