Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of a Global Plastics Treaty on (a) coastal communities and (b) West Dorset constituency.

The Government is committed to reaching agreement on an ambitious and effective treaty to end plastic pollution when negotiations resume in August 2025 and will be working closely with countries both within the High Ambition Coalition and outside it to achieve this.

Plastic pollution can negatively impact coastal areas, industries, and ecosystems. The UK is calling for global legally binding rules that will tackle the full life cycle of plastics and promote a circular economy, working to prevent and reduce plastic pollution. We have called for specific measures to address plastic pollution from fishing and aquaculture gear and plastic pellets, two forms of plastic pollution that particularly affect coastal communities and cause harm to coastal ecosystems.

Whilst a full assessment of the impacts can only be made once negotiations are complete, global and regional analysis by the OECD suggests an ambitious and effective global plastic pollution treaty could benefit the UK, including coastal areas such as West Dorset, by creating a level playing field for UK businesses and driving a global systems change towards a more circular economy for plastics.