BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6aebc2e6e4123 DTSTART:20261126T083000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20261126T150000Z LOCATION: World Trade Organization Building\, Geneva Switzerland \, Switzer land SUMMARY:Rethinking the need for single-use plastics: standards for sustaina ble plastic alternatives and non-plastic substitutes CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:Description  Driven by rapid economic and population growth\, global plastics use has increased 230-fold between 1950 and 2019 (from 2 m illion tonnes to 460 Mt) and is expected to further triple by 2060\, exace rbating environmental degradation. As 40-60% of all plastic packaging is s ingle-use and quickly discarded\, its growth will also continue contributi ng to plastic leakage and pollution with significant negative environmenta l and human health impacts\, including the disruption of ecosystems and a wide range of species.Addressing the impacts of single-use plastics throug hout their lifecycle requires a comprehensive approach that manages plasti cs use and demand\, considers designs for more circular economies\, enhanc es recycling and sound waste management\, and closes pathways for leakage into the environment. A specific lever to address the impacts of single-us e plastics is the replacement of conventional fossil-based plastics by pla stic alternatives and non-plastic substitutes. However\, given the variety of alternatives and substitutes\, their environmental impacts can vary si gnificantly depending on the materials used\, process and production metho ds employed during production and end of life management\, and standards a nd regulatory requirements in place. This has prompted discussions around the need to avoid regrettable substitution and unintended environmental im pacts\, such as increased emissions from transport due to heavier product or packaging weights\, or adverse biodiversity and land use impacts relate d to wastewater and chemical discharges\, as well as additives and chemica ls of concern that may be used to enhance both conventional plastics and n on-plastic substitutes and alternatives.  Several international framework s are exploring how trade can better support the transition to a circular economy of the plastics sector. For example\, the WTO’s Dialogue on Plas tic Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade (DPP) is adva ncing discussions on enhancing trade cooperation on environmentally sound\ , safe and effective plastic alternatives and non-plastic substitutes\, wi th a specific focus on the role of standards. Agenda10:15-11:15 Panel A: Key insights and trade data for understanding plastic alternatives and non -plastic substitutes replacing single-use plastics  Key Questions:To whic h extent does existing data capture trade in plastics\, plastic alternativ es\, and non-plastic substitutes\, and what are the main data gaps?  What are the main technical\, trade\, economic\, and financing barriers to sca ling up sustainable plastic alternatives and non-plastic substitutes\, and which incentives (such as investment and finance) could help overcome the m?  Which tradable product categories are critical for plastic substituti on to lower plastic pollution and leakage\, how can we ensure additives an d chemicals of concern are responsibly governed in plastic alternatives an d substitutes\, and what role could marine-based alternatives and substitu tes play?  Moderator: Mr. David Vivas Eugui\, Chief a.i. of the Ocean and Circular Economy Unit\, Trade\, Environment\, Climate Change and Sustaina ble Development Branch\, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)PanelistsMr. Mic hael Shaver\, Director of Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub\, Universit y of ManchesterMs. Petra Kynclova\, Statistician\, UN Trade and Developmen t (UNCTAD)Ms. Luciana Pellegrino\, President\, World Packaging Organizatio n (WPO)  Mr. Adi Reza Nugroho\, CEO\, MYCL\, Indonesia  Q&\;A11:15-11 :30 Coffee Break11:30-12:30 Panel B: Distinguishing genuine progress from regrettable substitution Key questionsWhat are the key environmental and human health risks and impacts associated with plastic alternatives and no n-plastic substitutes across their lifecycle? How do these compare to each other and to those of fossil-based plastics?  How can the environmental performance of alternatives and substitutes be improved through standards and other measures?  Can trade in environmental services be key to reduci ng risks and impacts related to potentially regrettable substitution?  Mo derator: Ms. Manuela Kiehl\, Environmental Economist\, OECDPanelists: Gov ernment Representative\, Thailand – TBC  Ms. Sophie Huysveld\, Professo r at University of GhentMr. Axel Marx\, Deputy Director Leuven Centre for Global Governance StudiesMr. Henrique Pacini\, SMEP Programme &\; Circu lar Economy Lead\, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)Q&\;A  12:30-14:00 Lunch Break14:00-15:30 Policy roundtable: Using trade-related policy to p romote sustainable progress on plastic alternatives and non-plastic substi tutesKey questionsHow can standards and regulatory measures for plastic al ternatives and non-plastic substitutes (including their chemical additives ) be developed\, used and improved?  How can international co-operation\, regional initiatives and private-public partnerships help reduce fragment ation in standards on plastic alternatives and non-plastic substitutes and reduce unnecessary trade barriers?How can economies and regional communit ies use trade-related policies to support the adoption and scaling of sust ainable plastic alternatives and non-plastic substitutes\, as part of a br oader policy package to address plastic pollution?Moderator: DPP coordinat orPanelistsMs. Carolyn Deere Birkbeck\, Founder and Executive Director\, F orum on Trade\, Environment\, &\; the SDGs (TESS)Government representat ive\, EU – TBCGovernment representative\, Costa Rica – TBCPrivate Sect or representative\, TBC  Ms. Ieva Baršauskaitė\, Lead\, Trade and Green Transition\, IISDMr. Ebenezer Laryea\, Reader in Sustainable Development Law\, Aston University\, West African Plastics Alternative Initiative - WA PAIQ&\;A15:30 -15:45 Closing remarks: OECD\, UNCTAD\, DPP (5mins each)  16:00 End of Workshop   <\;p>\;<\;strong>\;Description &\;n bsp\;<\;/strong>\;<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Driven by rapid economic and population growth\, global plastics use has increased 230-fold between 195 0 and 2019 (from 2 million tonnes to 460 Mt) and is expected to further tr iple by 2060\, exacerbating environmental degradation. As 40-60% of all pl astic packaging is single-use and quickly discarded\, its growth will also continue contributing to plastic leakage and pollution with significant n egative environmental and human health impacts\, including the disruption of ecosystems and a wide range of species.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Addressin g the impacts of single-use plastics throughout their lifecycle requires a comprehensive approach that manages plastics use and demand\, considers d esigns for more circular economies\, enhances recycling and sound waste ma nagement\, and closes pathways for leakage into the environment. A specifi c lever to address the impacts of single-use plastics is the replacement o f conventional fossil-based plastics by plastic alternatives and non-plast ic substitutes. However\, given the variety of alternatives and substitute s\, their environmental impacts can vary significantly depending on the ma terials used\, process and production methods employed during production a nd end of life management\, and standards and regulatory requirements in p lace. This has prompted discussions around the need to avoid regrettable s ubstitution and unintended environmental impacts\, such as increased emiss ions from transport due to heavier product or packaging weights\, or adver se biodiversity and land use impacts related to wastewater and chemical di scharges\, as well as additives and chemicals of concern that may be used to enhance both conventional plastics and non-plastic substitutes and alte rnatives. &\;nbsp\;<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Several international framewo rks are exploring how trade can better support the transition to a circula r economy of the plastics sector. For example\, the WTO’s Dialogue on Pl astic Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade (DPP) is ad vancing discussions on enhancing trade cooperation on environmentally soun d\, safe and effective plastic alternatives and non-plastic substitutes\, with a specific focus on the role of standards.<\;br>\;&\;nbsp\;< \;/p>\;<\;p>\;<\;strong>\;Agenda<\;/strong>\;<\;/p>\;< \;p>\;10:15-11:15 <\;strong>\;<\;u>\;Panel A: Key insights and t rade data for understanding plastic alternatives and non-plastic substitut es replacing single-use plastics<\;/u>\;<\;/strong>\; &\;nbsp\; <\;/p>\;<\;p>\;<\;u>\;Key Questions:<\;/u>\;<\;/p>\;&l t\;p>\;To which extent does existing data capture trade in plastics\, pl astic alternatives\, and non-plastic substitutes\, and what are the main d ata gaps? &\;nbsp\;<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;What are the main technical\, trade\, economic\, and financing barriers to scaling up sustainable plast ic alternatives and non-plastic substitutes\, and which incentives (such a s investment and finance) could help overcome them? &\;nbsp\;<\;/p> \;<\;p>\;Which tradable product categories are critical for plastic su bstitution to lower plastic pollution and leakage\, how can we ensure addi tives and chemicals of concern are responsibly governed in plastic alterna tives and substitutes\, and what role could marine-based alternatives and substitutes play? &\;nbsp\;<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;<\;u>\;Moderator: <\;/u>\; Mr. David Vivas Eugui\, Chief a.i. of the Ocean and Circular Economy Unit\, Trade\, Environment\, Climate Change and Sustainable Develo pment Branch\, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;< \;u>\;Panelists<\;/u>\;<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Mr. Michael Shaver\, D irector of Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub\, University of Manchester <\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Ms. Petra Kynclova\, Statistician\, UN Trade and De velopment (UNCTAD)<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Ms. Luciana Pellegrino\, Presiden t\, World Packaging Organization (WPO) &\;nbsp\;<\;/p>\;<\;p>\; Mr. Adi Reza Nugroho\, CEO\, MYCL\, Indonesia &\;nbsp\;<\;/p>\;<\ ;p>\;Q&\;amp\;A<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;11:15-11:30 Coffee Break<\;/p >\;<\;p>\;11:30-12:30 <\;strong>\;<\;u>\;Panel B: Distinguis hing genuine progress from regrettable substitution&\;nbsp\;<\;/u>\ ;<\;/strong>\;<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;<\;u>\;Key questions<\;/u&g t\;<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;What are the key environmental and human health risks and impacts associated with plastic alternatives and non-plastic sub stitutes across their lifecycle? How do these compare to each other and to those of fossil-based plastics? &\;nbsp\;<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;How ca n the environmental performance of alternatives and substitutes be improve d through standards and other measures? &\;nbsp\;<\;/p>\;<\;p>\ ;Can trade in environmental services be key to reducing risks and impacts related to potentially regrettable substitution? &\;nbsp\;<\;/p>\;& lt\;p>\;<\;strong>\;Moderator:<\;/strong>\; Ms. Manuela Kiehl\, Environmental Economist\, OECD<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Panelists:&\;nbsp\ ;<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Government Representative\, Thailand – TBC &\ ;nbsp\;<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Ms. Sophie Huysveld\, Professor at Universit y of Ghent<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Mr. Axel Marx\, Deputy Director Leuven Ce ntre for Global Governance Studies<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Mr. Henrique Paci ni\, SMEP Programme &\;amp\; Circular Economy Lead\, UN Trade and Devel opment (UNCTAD)<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Q&\;amp\;A &\;nbsp\;<\;/p> \;<\;p>\;12:30-14:00 Lunch Break<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;14:00-15:30 < \;strong>\;<\;u>\;Policy roundtable: Using trade-related policy to p romote sustainable progress on plastic alternatives and non-plastic substi tutes<\;/u>\;<\;/strong>\;<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;<\;u>\;Key qu estions<\;/u>\;<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;How can standards and regulatory measures for plastic alternatives and non-plastic substitutes (including their chemical additives) be developed\, used and improved? &\;nbsp\;&l t\;/p>\;<\;p>\;How can international co-operation\, regional initiat ives and private-public partnerships help reduce fragmentation in standard s on plastic alternatives and non-plastic substitutes and reduce unnecessa ry trade barriers?<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;How can economies and regional co mmunities use trade-related policies to support the adoption and scaling o f sustainable plastic alternatives and non-plastic substitutes\, as part o f a broader policy package to address plastic pollution?<\;/p>\;<\;p >\;<\;u>\;Moderator:<\;/u>\; DPP coordinator<\;/p>\;<\;p&g t\;<\;u>\;Panelists<\;/u>\;<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Ms. Carolyn Deer e Birkbeck\, Founder and Executive Director\, Forum on Trade\, Environment \, &\;amp\; the SDGs (TESS)<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Government representa tive\, EU – TBC<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Government representative\, Costa Rica – TBC<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Private Sector representative\, TBC &am p\;nbsp\;<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Ms. Ieva Baršauskaitė\, Lead\, Trade and Green Transition\, IISD<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Mr. Ebenezer Laryea\, Reade r in Sustainable Development Law\, Aston University\, West African Plastic s Alternative Initiative - WAPAI<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Q&\;amp\;A<\;/ p>\;<\;p>\;15:30 -15:45 Closing remarks: OECD\, UNCTAD\, DPP (5mins each) &\;nbsp\;<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;16:00 End of Workshop &\;nbsp\ ;<\;br>\;&\;nbsp\;<\;/p>\;\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\nhttps ://unctad.org/meeting/rethinking-need-single-use-plastics-standards-sustai nable-plastic-alternatives-and-non DTSTAMP:20261104T234230Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR