On the evening of the 1st local time, the fifth meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution concluded at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center in South Korea, but the parties involved failed to reach an agreement on the text of the international treaty on plastic pollution. This meeting, which began on November 25, attracted over 1,400 negotiating representatives from 178 UN member states, as well as more than 2,300 representatives from intergovernmental organizations, UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the media. Plastic pollution has been a major environmental challenge facing the international community and has been a key focus of previous United Nations Environment Assemblies. In March 2022, the resumed fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly adopted a draft resolution to end plastic pollution, deciding to establish an intergovernmental negotiating committee to work towards a legally binding international instrument on plastic pollution by the end of 2024 through five meetings.

Despite the increasing attention from the international community towards plastic pollution, the application of plastics in various fields remains widespread. In the packaging sector, plastic containers, bags, films, and other products can protect goods from external environmental impacts and enhance product display and sales appeal. In the construction sector, the use of plastic pipes, sheets, insulation materials, and others is becoming more common, improving energy efficiency in buildings. Additionally, plastics play an important role in automotive manufacturing, electronics, medical applications, and textiles.

However, with the growing awareness of environmental protection globally, issues related to plastic waste management and recycling have become increasingly prominent. Plastic recycling not only reduces dependence on non-renewable resources such as oil but also lowers energy consumption and carbon emissions. Furthermore, it can mitigate the environmental impact of landfilling and incineration by reducing waste through recycling and reuse. Therefore, strengthening plastic recycling and promoting sustainable development of plastics have become urgent issues that need to be addressed.