Global Stances on Plastic Product Design and Performance: A Comprehensive Analysis

Product design and performance are central to shaping the environmental impact of plastic products throughout their life cycles, from inception to disposal.

‘Product design’ involves deliberate planning aimed at reducing environmental impacts by selecting sustainable materials, enhancing recyclability, and considering end-of-life options.

‘Sustainable design’ prioritises eco-friendly materials, mono-materials, or compatible composites that simplify recycling while minimising packaging waste and promoting durability to extend product lifespan.

Concepts such as ‘modular’ or ‘repairable designs’ further contribute to resource efficiency and sustainability by allowing products to be upgraded or repaired, reducing the need for replacement.

Simultaneously, ‘product performance’ focuses on ensuring functionality and quality while balancing environmental considerations.

‘Sustainable performance’ emphasises optimising energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and minimising environmental harm throughout the product’s life cycle. This includes designing products that meet user expectations without compromising on recyclability or the ability to dispose of them responsibly at the end of their life.

By integrating sustainable design and performance principles, manufacturers can significantly mitigate the environmental footprint of plastic production and consumption, supporting broader circular economy goals that prioritise resource efficiency, waste reduction, and environmental stewardship.

In treaty negotiations, the pivotal role of product design and performance in combating plastic pollution has been emphasised. Design choices influence a product’s recyclability, usage patterns, and end-of-life impact, prompting discussions on eco-friendly principles that encourage sustainability. These include creating products that are easier to disassemble, reducing the use of mixed materials, and incorporating recycled content.

Discussions also highlight the need for global standards on product composition to eliminate harmful additives and ensure that materials do not hinder recycling processes. Performance criteria are being scrutinised to ensure they maintain functionality while adhering to environmentally safe practices.

Countries have taken varying stances on these issues. The European Union and the Philippines are among the most ambitious, advocating for minimum design and performance standards aligned with international criteria. These measures aim to promote circularity, address emissions such as microplastics and chemicals of concern, and establish universal standards for product safety and recyclability. Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) and Thailand generally support current measures, with Thailand suggesting an upstream approach that emphasises universal criteria and innovation in sustainable design.

Other nations, such as Kazakhstan, India, and Japan, agree to these provisions but advocate a more nationally driven approach. While they align with international standards, they seek flexibility to tailor implementation to their local contexts, reflecting a commitment to uniform goals while preserving national discretion. In contrast, countries such as Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Guatemala, China, and Kuwait have proposed less ambitious measures. Malaysia favours a nationally determined approach with a minimum recycled content requirement, while Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have weakened the language by substituting terms like ‘plastics’ with ‘plastic products’ and ‘emissions’ with ‘leakages’, while removing references to microplastics. China and Guatemala emphasise the need for flexibility, with China citing cost considerations and Guatemala highlighting national capacities.

By addressing product design and performance holistically, nations can develop standards that advance sustainability without compromising functionality. The emphasis on global cooperation, paired with flexibility for national implementation, underscores the importance of balancing ambition with practical feasibility in the fight against plastic pollution. This integrated approach has the potential to align product innovation with environmental goals, ultimately supporting ecosystems and human health.