INF/TE/IDP/RD/85* 
5 December 2022  
(22-9013) Page: 1/10 
 Original:  English/anglais/inglés  
 
  
UNOFFICIAL ROOM DOCUMENT1 
 
DIALOGUE ON PLASTICS POLLUTION  
AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS TRADE  
SUBMISSIONS BY BRS 
Workshop 6 December 2022  
 
 
DOCUMENT DE S ÉANCE NON OFFICIEL1 
 
DIALOGUE ON PLASTICS POLLUTION  
AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS TRADE  
SUBMISSIONS BY BRS 
Workshop 6 December 2022  
 
 
DOCUMENTO DE SALA NO OF ICIAL1 
 
DIALOGUE ON PLASTICS POLLUTION  
AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS TRADE  
SUBMISSIONS BY BRS 
Workshop 6 December 2022  
 
_______________  
  
 
* In Original language only/En langue originale seulement/En el idioma original solamente.  
1 Documents issued in the RD series are not official WTO documents. They usually appear in their 
language of submission and will not be translated systematically into the working languages of the WTO. They 
are intended for use in WTO meeting rooms and are a ttributed an unofficial symbol for archiving purposes only.  
Les documents de la série RD ne sont pas des documents officiels de l 'OMC. Ils ne paraissent 
généralement que dans la langue dans laquelle ils ont été communiqués et ne seront pas systématiquemen t 
traduits dans les langues de travail de l'OMC. Ils sont destinés aux salles de réunion de l'OMC et une cote non 
officielle leur est attribuée à des fins d'archivage.  
Los documentos de la serie RD no son documentos oficiales de la OMC. Por lo general se d istribuyen en 
el idioma en que han sido presentados y no se traduce n sistemáticamente a los idiomas de trabajo de la 
Organización. Se distribuyen para su uso en las salas de reunión de la OMC y se les asigna una signatura no 
oficial a efectos de archivo ún icamente.  INF/TE/IDP/RD/85  
 
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  WORKSHOP ON SUSTAINABLE AND EFFECTIVE SUBSTITUTES AND ALTERNATIVES FOR 
PLASTICS.  
 
DRAFT AGENDA  
 
Workshop on sustainable and effective substitutes and alternatives for plastics  
WTO in collaboration with UNCTAD  
6 December 2022  
Hybrid event – WTO room (tbc) and online (zoom)  
10:00 am – 1:00 pm  
 
The workshop will be structured in three parts: i) opening segment; ii) two work -focused break -
out sessions (1h45min divided into two parts each) covering specific topics; and iii) closing plenary 
where delegations and stakeholders will reconvene. Discussi ons in the break -out sessions will be 
facilitated and focus on the guiding questions to each topic (see annex). Delegations and invited 
stakeholders can choose their preferred break -out session and are asked to participate actively. 
They are also invited t o send written submissions prior to the event to idp@wto.org .  
 
10:00 am  Plenary:  
 
Welcome remarks by Dialogue Facilitators (Australia and Philippines) and the WTO and UNCTAD 
Secretariats  
 
Factual report of discussions he ld at the Dialogue covering the Workshop topics, WTO  
 
Presentation “Plastic pollution: the pressing case of natural and environmentally friendly 
substitutes to Plastics”, UNCTAD  
 
10:30 am – 12:30 pm - Break-out sessions  
 
Session 1   
 
10:30  
a. Working definitions for terms relevant to 
trade in substitutes and alternatives2   
 
 
11:25  
b. HS code identification exercise, and trade -
related measures enabling substitution of 
single -use plastic products (SUPP) and 
other “problematic” goods by sustainable 
materia ls 
 Session 2   
 
10:30  
a. Illustrative and extended list of material 
substitutes and material identification 
exercise  
 
11:25  
b. Minimum criteria for life cycle analysis, 
including other considerations such as 
tradability, non -toxicity, affordability, 
accessibili ty, and availability.  
 
 
12:45 pm 1:00 pm Plenary:  
 
Reports of facilitators, round of short reactions by the plenary and conclusion  
 
 
 
 
2 Tentative definitions for terms such as:  plastic; microplastic; plastic substitutes; plastic alternatives; 
environmentally sustainable; effective (including cost and functionally effective); single -use; reusable; 
biodegradable; erodible; recyc lable; recyclable content; compostable; plastic -related emissions; waste 
management technologies.  INF/TE/IDP/RD/85  
 
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  ANNEX – Questions for written submissions by delegations and stakeholders  
 
Break -out sessions will focus on the guiding questions below. Delegations and invited stakeholders 
are kindly invited to send written answers to these questions prior to the event to idp@wto.org . 
 
1) Working definitions  
 
Q. What are the concepts for which a "working definition" could help the identification of 
"environmentally sustainable and effective substitutes and alternatives"  (please select all that 
apply). For each, what are the key elements that should be included in a working definition?  
 
Secretariat of the BRS Conventions. Resources mentioned below:  
 
- Decision BC-14/13: Further actions to address plastic waste under the Basel Convention  
 
- Framework for the environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes and other 
wastes 
(http://www.bas el.int/Implementation/CountryLedInitiative/EnvironmentallySoundManage
ment/ESMFramework/tabid/3616/Default.aspx )  
 
 
- Environmentally sound management (ESM) toolkit (e.g. Practical manual for the promotion 
of the environmentally sound management of waste: ter minology) 
(http://www.basel.int/Implementation/CountryLedInitiative/EnvironmentallySoundManage
ment/ESMToolkit/Overview/tabid/5839/Default.aspx)  
 
- Glossary of terms 
(http://www.basel.int/Implementation/Publications/GuidanceManuals/tabid/2364/Default.a
spx#)  
 
- Technical guidelines for the identification and environmentally sound management (ESM) of 
plastic wastes and for their disposal 
(http://www.basel.int/Implementation/Plasticwaste/Technicalguidelines/Overview/tabid/79
92/Default.aspx)  
 
 
- Draft report on Globa l governance of plastics and associated chemicals, November 2022 
(http://www.basel.int/Implementation/Plasticwaste/Callforinformation/Globalgovernanceof
plasticsandassociatedchemi/tabid/9378/Default.aspx)  
 
 concept  Key elements  Potential source  
☒ plastic  Plastic is usually a synthetic material, 
either a polymer or combination of 
polymers of high molecular mass 
modified or compounded with 
additives such as fillers, plasticizers, 
stabilizers, lubricants, pigments. 
According to the International 
Organ ization for Standardization (ISO) 
“plastic is a material which contains as 
an essential ingredient a high polymer 
and which, at some stage in its 
processing into finished products, can 
be shaped by flow” (ISO, 2013). 11. 
Polymers are natural or synthetic 
substances composed of very large 
molecules, called macromolecules, 
that are multiples of simpler chemical 
units called monomers. There are a 
number of detailed definitions of the 
term “polymer”, such as by the OECD 
(OECD Definition of Polymer - OECD ) . Draft technical guidelines on the 
environmentally sound 
management of ESM of plastic 
wastes (TG on ESM of plastic 
waste)  INF/TE/IDP/RD/85  
 
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   concept  Key elements  Potential source  
☐ microplastics  Plastic particles up to 5 mm in 
diameter (no ref to the source). 
Sources, challenges are related to its 
“behavior”: chemical (e.g.POPs), 
physical, and biological effects  UNEP Brochure Microplastics 
(https://wedocs.unep.org/bitst
ream/handle/20.500.11822/12
079/brochure -
microplastics.pdf?se quence=1&
amp%3BisAllowed=)  
☐ plastics 
substitutes    
☐ plastic 
alternatives  Parties to the Basel Convention and 
others are invited to significantly 
reduce single -use plastic products, 
notably through specific measures, 
such as the development of affor dable 
and environmentally friendly  
alternatives, the use of substitutes for 
such products where alternatives are 
economically available, the  
reduction in their consumption  
 
 
 
Alternative materials with less 
environmental impact or by reducing 
the size of the products   
Decision BC-14/13: Further 
actions to address plastic waste 
under the Basel Convention 
(section II on Preventing and 
minimizing the generation of 
plastic waste, improving its 
environmentally  
sound management and 
controlling its trans boundary 
movement)  
 
 
TG on ESM of plastic wastes 
(draft)  
☐ environmentally 
sustainable  See below “Environmentally sound 
management”   
☐ effective 
(including cost 
and functionally 
effective)  See below - See below 
“Environmentally sound management”   
☒ single use  UNEA -4 resolution 9 on “Addressing 
single -use plastic products pollution” 
encourages member states to develop 
and implement actions to address the 
environmental impacts of single -use 
plastic products , identify 
environmentally f riendly alternatives 
to single -use plastics , promote 
improved waste management and 
more resource -efficient design, 
production, use and sound 
management of plastics across their 
life cycle  
 
  
☐ re-usable  Waste management hierarchy: 
recognized by decision BC -10/2 as 
prevention, minimization, reuse, 
recycling, other recovery including 
energy recovery, and final disposal; in 
doing so, encouraging treatment 
options that deliver the best overall 
environmental outcome, taking into 
account life -cycle thi nking.  
Waste prevention (i.e. strict 
avoidance, source reduction and direct 
reuse), while part of waste 
minimisation (that also covers reuse 
and recycling), is fundamentally 
different from all other activities within 
the waste management hierarchy as it Practical manual for the 
promotion of the 
environmentally sound 
management of waste: 
terminology  INF/TE/IDP/RD/85  
 
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   concept  Key elements  Potential source  
is implemented before products or 
materials become wastes. Waste 
prevention measures occur prior to 
waste management, as part of 
strategies and actions promoting or 
even mandating environmentally 
sound production, trade and 
consumption.  
 
Waste prevention ma y involve the 
following strategies:  
(a) Strict avoidance involves the 
prevention of waste generation by 
elimination of the need for a product, 
or material, or by a reduction of 
hazardous substances and inputs, or 
by reducing material or energy 
intensity i n production, consumption, 
and distribution.1 Strict avoidance 
also includes designing products for 
prolonged life. Waste prevention in 
this latter context extends the life of 
products and acts as a diversion of 
waste flows;  
(b) Source reduction involves altering 
production processes to minimize the 
use of toxic or harmful substances 
and/or minimizing material or energy 
consumption and/or maximally 
substituting primary raw materials 
with secondary raw materials that 
result from high quality recycling.2 
Waste prevention in this context 
reduces or eliminates waste and 
pollution at source through process 
changes;  
 (c) Direct reuse means the using 
again of a product, object or substance 
that is not waste for the same purpose 
for which it was conceived without t he 
necessity of repair or refurbishment;  
 
 
☐ biodegradable  Plastics can also be classified 
considered as  biodegradable and non -
biodegradable. Biodegradable plastics 
are broadly understood to refer to 
plastics that can be degraded under 
certain conditions, such as 
temperature, UV, humidity, oxygen 
content and pH, by microorganisms in 
nature, such as bacteria, mould, and 
algae, and turn into water or carbon 
dioxide and other small molecules. The 
timeframe, the level of 
biodegradation, and the environment 
condition required for biodegradation 
need to be provided, alo ng with claim 
of biodegradability of plastics 
(European Bioplastics, 2018). 
Standard specifications or protocols Draft TG on ESM of plastic 
wastes (this is in particular  the 
subject to ongoing discussions)  INF/TE/IDP/RD/85  
 
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   concept  Key elements  Potential source  
are required for biodegradability of 
plastics.  
Some of the available standard 
protocols for assessment of 
biodegradation of plastics include 
ISO/17556 for aerobic 
biodegradability of plastic materials in 
soil, ISO/15985 for anaerobic 
biodegradation under high -solids 
anaerobic -digestion conditions. Both  
fossil-based plastic and bio -based 
plastic can be biodegradable or non -
biodegradable under certain 
conditions.  
 
 
See also “ Oxo-degradable plastics”  
☐ erodib le   
☐ recyclable  Recycling:  
Plastic waste recycling (operation R3) 
can be categorized as follows:  
(a) Mechanical recycling, with the 
processing of waste plastic through 
physical sorting, size reduction, 
cleaning and drying, thermal melt -
extrusion and pelletizing, and 
compounding;  
(b) Physical recycling, with the 
removal of constituents (e.g., flame -
retardants) from plastic waste while 
keeping the plastic polymer molecules 
chain largely intact (solvent -based 
purification);  
c) Chemical recycling, where the 
plastic polymer molecules chains are 
broken down (recovery of chemical 
constituents that have been  de-
polymerized) and used as base 
chemicals, including feedstock for 
plastic manufacture (feedstock 
recycling).  
 
 
There are also specific aspects of 
recycling of common types of plastic 
waste (PE, PP, PS, ABS, PET, PC, PVC).  
 
“Recyclable” also could also b e 
assumed as free of POPs  and other 
hazardous chemicals  
  
Draft TG on ESM of plastic 
wastes  
☐ recycled content  
Plastic polymers made from recycled 
material.  
 Draft report on Global 
governance of plastics  
and associated chemicals, 
November 2022  
 INF/TE/IDP/RD/85  
 
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   concept  Key elements  Potential source  
☐ compostable  Compostable plastics are considered 
those plastics which have been tested 
and adhere to international standards, 
such as American Society for Testing 
and Materials ASTM D6400 -21 (ASTM, 
2001) (in the U.S.) or European 
Standard EN 13432:2001 (Eur opean 
Standard, 2001) (in Europe), for 
biodegradation in an industrial 
composting facility: in addition, this 
may be certified by a third party. For 
compostable plastics to be fully 
composted, disposal must happen 
under specific conditions of 
temperature, moisture, oxygen level 
and microbial activity, normally found 
in controlled composting.   
Draft TG on ESM of plastic 
wastes  
☐ plastic -related 
emissions  Landfilling of plastic wastes can have 
impacts on human health and the 
environment, in particular in non -
engineered landfills or open dumpsites 
such as the potential leaching of 
plastics additives, particles and items 
into the wider environment. 
Gasification, pyrolysis and 
combustion, in particular open 
burning, of plastic wastes, can also 
have impacts on human health and the 
environment due to emissions and 
releases of greenhouse gases; and 
pollutants, such as unintentionally 
produced POPs and mercury.  
 
Pollutant emissions related to disposal 
and treatment of plastic wastes at 
respective fac ilities can include liquids, 
solids, gases, and others, which can be 
determined following the specific 
national legislation or international 
regulations and standards.   
Draft TG on ESM of plastic 
wastes  
☐ waste 
management 
technologies  Technologies are closely linked to the 
operations which are applied for the 
ESM of plastic wastes. There can be 
technologies for sorting, mechanic 
recycling, etc. Detailed information on 
the technologies is available  
 
 
Plastics technologies that are relev ant 
to the environment including 
technologies for prevention, recycling, Draft TG on ESM of plastic 
wastes  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Draft report on Global 
governance of plastics  INF/TE/IDP/RD/85  
 
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   concept  Key elements  Potential source  
conversion or disposal of waste; for 
leakage removal; and for biobased 
feedstock.  
 and associated chemicals, 
November 2022  
 
☐ Other  
 
 Environmentally 
sound 
management  Environmentally sound management 
means taking all practicable steps to 
ensure that hazardous wastes or other 
wastes are managed in a manner 
which will protect human health and 
the environment against the adverse 
effects which may result from such 
wastes.  Basel Convention, Article 2 (8)  
 
ESM Framework  
 Environmental 
management 
system  A set of processes and practices that 
enable an organization to reduce its 
environmen tal impacts and increase 
its operating efficiency. A waste facility 
should have an environmental 
management system (EMS) in place, 
taking into account the size of the 
enterprise, the level of risk associated 
with the operation of the facility and 
other fac tors relevant to 
implementation. An EMS is often 
designed to be integrated into the 
“plan, do, check and act” model for 
continuous improvement and many 
existing systems already use this 
approach. It helps to ensure that 
environmental issues are 
systematica lly identified, controlled 
and monitored in the context of the 
need to reinforce continuous 
improvement. Several applicable EMS 
already exist in countries which are 
members of the Organization for 
Economic Cooperation and 
Development (OECD): ISO 14001, 
which is worldwide; the Eco -
Management and Audit Scheme 
(EMAS), which is specific to European 
countries and has somewhat more 
ambitious requirements than ISO 
14001. Also considered to be 
applicable EMS are those that are 
tailor--made for individual 
circumstan ces – for example, systems 
designed for the purpose of specific 
industrial sectors or enterprises.  Practical manual for the 
promotion of the 
environmentally sound 
management of waste: 
terminology  
 Oxo-degradable 
plastics  Oxo-degradable plastic is made by 
blending a pro -degradant additive into 
the plastic during the extrusion 
process, which accelerates the 
fragmentation of plastics into plastic 
fragments under certain conditions. 
Once the product is buried in the soil, 
and out of sunlight, the degradation 
process stops and residual small 
plastic particles remain intact, causing 
the release of microplastics.  Draft TG on ESM of plastic 
wastes  INF/TE/IDP/RD/85  
 
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   concept  Key elements  Potential source  
 End-of-waste  The Basel Convention does not clarify 
when a waste ceases to be a waste. 
The Glossary of Terms of the Basel 
Convention provides explanatory 
notes in this regard (UNEP, 2017f). 
Possibilities for waste to cease to be 
waste referenced in the Glossary of 
terms  include when:  
(i) It has been prepared for 
reuse;  
(ii)  (ii) It has undergone a 
recycling operation and 
that operation is 
completed;  
(iii) (iii) It has otherwise 
gained end -of-waste 
status as a result of a 
recovery operation.  
 
 Some Parties have 
adopted conditions in  their 
national legislation that 
can determine the point at 
which a material need no 
longer be classified as 
waste, such as the 
European Union 
(European Union, 2008) 
and the UK (English 
Environment Agency, 
2016).  Draft TG on ESM of plastic 
wastes  
 
2) HS code identification exercise, and trade -related measures enabling substitution of 
single -use plastic products (SUPP) and other “problematic” goods by sustainable 
materials.  
 
Q. Please indicate what " environmentally sustainable and effective substitutes and  alternatives" are 
already being traded – even if not perfect/ideal solutions – and their identification codes under the 
Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS) – even if those codes currently cover 
other products.  
 
 
3) Illustrative and extended list of material substitutes and material identification 
exercise  
 
Q. Please indicate the key criteria to be considered when identifying environmentally sustainable 
and effective substitute materials. Please provide examples of su ch materials as well as relevant HS 
codes if available.  
 
See chapter 4.1.2.  Proposal for sustainability criteria for plastics and associated chemicals of the 
draft report “ Global governance of plastics and associated chemicals ”.  
 
 INF/TE/IDP/RD/85  
 
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  4) Minimum criteria for life cycle analysis, including other considerations such as 
tradability, non -toxicity, affordability, accessibility, and availability.  
 
Q. What are the key criteria that should be included in the life cycle analysis (and other 
considerations such as tradability, non -toxicity, affordability, accessibility, and availability)  of 
plastics, their  alternatives, and substitutes.  
 
 
__________