Plastics are a crucial material deeply ingrained in our modern lives yet causing significant environmental challenges. Plastics can cause damage to our environment on an enormous scale, threatening ecosystems, wildlife, and ultimately the well-being of our planet. In response to this urgent challenge, the UN Plastics Treaty has emerged as a timely and pivotal initiative. Within the discourse surrounding plastic waste management, the trajectory has shifted from mere elimination to fostering innovation, efficient circulation, and ultimately necessary regulation. Here, the vital role of the chemical sector becomes apparent, as it holds the key to developing sustainable alternatives and driving the necessary changes in production and consumption patterns to mitigate the plastics crisis.

In this meeting, we delve into the current state-of-the-art and analytical challenges in the risk assessment of plastics with respect to the environment and human health, the critical need for sustainable and circular production of plastics, considering the viability of recycling, the role of biodegradation versus biobased materials, and the reconsideration of additives, such as bisphenol A analogs, as well as more sustainable pigments. The challenges and opportunities for chemistry research to address the existing issues will be contextualized at the beginning of each session by one keynote lecture, a non-chemist, that outlines the impacts of plastics on the environment and our society.

Topics of the meeting will include:

• Green chemistry, sustainable synthesis, and alternative feedstocks
• Recyclable-by-design: precision polymer synthesis
• Bioplastics and biodegradable polymers
• Plastics recycling, upcycling, and repurposing
• Challenges for risk assessment of micro-nanoplastics in the environment
• Policy, regulation, and monitoring