The open letter, which was signed by Tom Daunt, Member of the ALDI SÜD Group’s Executive Board, calls on countries to find common ground at the upcoming fifth session of the International Negotiating Committee to develop an international binding instrument on plastic pollution, scheduled to take place from 25 November to 1 December 2024.

The ALDI SÜD Group joined the new calls for an agreement that establishes global criteria for phasing out harmful chemicals and problematic plastics, encourages sector-specific circular design for plastic products, defines key principles for effective Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, and mandates a strong governing body to enhance the agreement over time.

ALDI is a founding member of the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, which was founded in September 2022 and is convened by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and WWF.

The coalition contains more than 80 organisations, including business from across the plastics value chain, financial institutions, and NGOs, which have aligned on a shared vision of a circular economy in which plastic never becomes waste or pollution, and the value of products and materials is retained in the economy.