Call to support universal access to water services and to stop plastic bottles expansion

NGOs across the world urge the Global Plastics Treaty negotiators to strongly reduce plastic bottle production and to support universal access to water services.

Join NGOs Call – Rejoindre l’appel des Associations

Distinguished Delegates and Chair of the International Negotiation Committee for a Global Plastics Treaty,

In view of the upcoming round of negotiations on an international legally binding instrument (ILIB) on plastic pollution (INC 5.2), the civil society organisations signatories to this letter would like to insist on the importance of including strong measures to reduce the production and consumption of plastic bottles and support instead access to safe drinking water for all.

Human health and the human right to safe drinking water for all are threatened by plastic pollution and the expansion of plastic bottled water markets. We call to support universal access to water services and to stop plastic bottles expansion.

Plastic poses an ongoing crisis for human health, due to its pollution and to the increasing hazardous chemicals and microplastics releases exposure, which imply the application of the precautionary approach. The effects on health of chemicals present in plastic products, including bottles, are well documented and there is growing evidence about microplastic presence in critical human organs and bloodstream[1].

Plastic bottles are a main source of human exposure to toxic chemicals[2] and microplastics, leaking from bottle production facilities as well as from the packaging into the water it contains. A study published in January 2024[3] has found an average of 240,000 particles from seven different types of plastic in plastic bottles, mostly in the form of nano plastics.

Moreover, the rapidly-growing bottled water industry (+73% in the past ten years) can undermine progress towards a key sustainable development goal – safe water for all-, as an United Nations University report[4]  recently revealed.

The report concludes that unrestricted expansion of the bottled water industry is not aligned strategically with the goal of providing universal access to drinking water, distracting attention and resources from accelerated public water supply systems development. Besides, the report highlights the lack of transparency of the bottled water industry, the growing contamination cases all over the world, and the threat to a sustainable management of groundwater resources. The European Commission also denounced in July 2024 fraud in the natural mineral waters and spring waters sector [5] with potential consequences on human health.

Furthermore, bottled water per litre can cost 150 to 1,000 times more[6]  than the price a municipality charges for tap water. Thereby, affordable access to water, which is an essential criterion of the human right to water, is not guaranteed.

We call to support universal access to water services and to stop plastic bottles expansion.

Estimates[7] suggest that less than half of what the world pays for bottled water annually would be sufficient to ensure clean tap water access for hundreds of millions of people without it – for years.

We call for an elimination, or at least a strong reduction, of all kinds of single use plastics, especially plastic bottles, which are a main cause of plastic damages on environment and health

The Plastic Treaty text should absolutely consider plastic bottles as a main problematic and easily avoidable single use plastic product (where possible) regarding : 

  • the burden of plastic bottles[8] in plastic pollution, and the risks due to the release of microplastics ;
  • the fact that plastic bottles are avoidable easily in most areas, as almost 5 billion people already have access to safe drinking water and as 2 billion people should also reach this goal in 2030. Indeed, number six of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals plans to “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all in 2030.”

We stress that plastic bottles (including cardboard bottles lined with plastic and water sachets) should be eliminated where possible, or strongly reduced, in the section of the treaty speaking of problematic, avoidable, single use plastics and microplastics.

National or local examples of strong plastic bottles reduction and ban policies are increasing (I.e. ban in France in 2040 and reduction of half of the sales in 2030, bans in cities in Canada, Australia and the United States) and should inspire the delegates.

Reduction of plastic bottles, and of all kinds of single use plastics, should be supported by ambitious EPR mechanisms, extended to waste prevention, reduction and reuse.

The waste hierarchy is also a main principle to financial mechanisms and technical support, that could inter connect with funding and support needed for access to water and promotion of tap water.

We need controls on plastic production, which threatens planetary boundaries and climate action

In 2019, plastics generated 1.8 billion metric tonnes  of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—3.4 percent of global emissions—with 90 percent associated with plastics production and, by 2050, these emissions could quadruple to 15 percent of global emissions[9].

It is imperative that the new instrument is designed not only to protect human health and the environment from plastic pollution but that it is also crafted to keep us on track for a 1.5 °C world. Recent studies have demonstrated that without legally binding measures to freeze and phase-down the production of primary polymers, our best-case scenario is merely a stabilisation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at their current levels. These levels are already undermining the attainment of the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal.

A freeze and phase-down in production to sustainable levels is also a priority to enable effective measures in the rest of the life cycle. Waste management systems are completely overwhelmed despite demand reduction measures and massive investments, and controls in production are needed to enable effective and safer solutions.

As plastic bottles are a main driver of plastic production, a strong reduction of these products will help to cap and reduce global production.

Sincerely,

First signatories :

  1. Muriel Papin et Valérie Desplas, No Plastic In My Sea, France, Core Member of the global movement Break Break Free From Plastic
  2. Sandra Métayer, Coalition Eau, France
  3. Sarah Dousse, International Secretariat for Water – Solidarity Water, Europe and Worldwide
  4. Antoinette Vermilye and Laurianne Trimoulla, Gallifrey Foundation, Switzerland
  5. Dianna Cohen, Plastic Pollution Coalition, United States
  6. Jackie Nuñez, The Last Plastic Straw, USA, Puerto Rico, South America, Caribbean, Europe
  7. Ibrahim Bechrouri, Ekō, Global
  8. Lorena Paez Brito, Instituto Mexicano de Desarrollo Humano y Aprovechamiento Sustentable SC IMDESU SC, México
  9. Ana G. Dewar, Retorna, Global
  10. Laura Martinez, Sociedad de Historia Natural Niparajá, México
  11. Axèle Gibert, France Nature Environnement, France
  12. Magali Payen, On Est Prêt, France
  13. Aziz Faye, POSCEAS, Sénégal
  14. Pauline Debrabandere, Zero Waste France, France
  15. Ana Rocha, Nipe Fagio, Tanzania
  16. Luc  Arnaud, GRET,  France
  17. Julien Lallemand, Association Sillages, Réunion Island (France)
  18. Samuel Höller, a tip: tap e.V, Germany
  19. Jules Vagner, Objectif Zéro Plastique, France
  20. Sarah Ehrlich, Free Tap Water, in Belgium
  21. Piotr Barczak, Polish Zero Waste Association, Poland
  22. Olivia Skordi and Sara Mariza, Vryonidi,  Friends of the Earth Cyprus, Cyprus
  23. Valentina Muñoz, Sciaena, Portugal
  24. Marco Capovilla, Venice Tap Water, Italia
  25. Lucien Delorme et Gilles Bogo,, Hydraulique Sans Frontières, France
  26. Nathalie Tehio, LDH (Ligue des droits de l’Homme), France
  27. France Yannick Champain, Ligue des droits de l’Homme Pays Soissonnais, France
  28. Sophie Lehideux,  Kynarou,  France
  29. Irena  Burba, Association Green Istria, Croatia
  30. Ana Marija   Mileusnic, Zelena akcija / FoE Croatia, Croatia
  31. Sofia  Ribas Plastic Free Ibiza & Formentera (Alliance), Spain (Balearics)
  32. Elena Jaume Muelbaier,  Fundación Cleanwave, Spain/Balearics
  33. Vanessa Charlotte,  Coordination Eau Ile-de-France,  France
  34. Zoran Lalic, Tatavaka,  Croatia
  35. Marco Musso, European Environmental Bureau, Europe
  36. Jeroen Dagevos, Plastic Soup Foundation, the Netherlands
  37. Cecilia Bianco, Taller Ecologista, Argentina
  38. Vanessa Olivares, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, México
  39. Iyari Espinoza, Grupo de investigación de mamiferos marinos, México
  40. Rosemarie Zehetgruber, Waterschools Vienna, Austria
  41. Jean-Pierre Mahe et Eric Buchet, Experts Solidaires, France
  42. Loic Monjour, E.A.S.T, Eau Agriculuture Santé en Milieu Tropical, France
  43. Gabrielle Kuzak et Eve Warlow, City to Sea, UK
  44. Chloé Schwizgebel, Fair Resource Foundation, The Netherlands; Belgium
  45. Margot Clarys et Perrine Benoist , Action Contre la Faim France, France
  46. Oscar Velez, Revive Mexico, Mexico
  47. Mayra Victoria Gutiérrez Sandoval, Ponguinguiola, México
  48. Daniel Aguirre-Ayala, Marine Mammal Research Group (GRIMMA), México
  49. Francisco Alcocer y Lozano, Los Cabos Coastkeeper: Flora and Fauna Protection Area, México
  50. Froilan Esquinca Cano, UICN CEM México Focal Point, México
  51. Mark Johnston, The Scarab Trust, United Kingdom
  52. Mauricio Cornaglia, Campaña Plurinacional en Defensa del Agua para la Vida, Argentina
  53. Sylvie Platel, WECF France, France
  54. Serge Doussant et. Nicolas Charlassier, Green Vientiane, Laos
  55. Alejandra Parra, Red de Acción por los Derechos Ambientales RADA, Chile
  56. Maria Eugenia Gil-Beroes, Fundación Aguaclara, Venezuela
  57. Marisol Landau, Fundación de Acción Social por Panamá FAS, Panama
  58. Larisa de Orbe, Red Mexicana de Acción Ecológica, México
  59. Anne-Christelle Beauvois, 1 Déchet Par Jour, France
  60. Jean-Michel Damiens, eau secours 62, France
  61. Nathalie Seguin, Redes del Agua, México
  62. Sofie Van Canegem, Naturvernforbundet, Norway
  63. Jan Dell, The Last Beach Cleanup, Global
  64. Frédérique Mongodin, Seas At Risk, Belgium
  65. Patricia Reina Toresano, Vivir sin plástico, Spain
  66. Seema Prabhu, Trash Hero World, Global
  67. György Szabó, Humusz Szövetség, Hungary
  68. Anne Aittomaki, Plastic Change, Europe
  69. Katja Sreš, Ekologi brez meja, Slovenija
  70. Susana Fonseca, ZERO – Association for the Sustainability of the Earth System, Portugal
  71. Narantuya Gursed, Ecosoum NGO, Mongolia
  72. Kristine Kubat, Recycle Hawaii, United States of America
  73. Joanie Steinhaus, Turtle Island Restoration Network, United States of America
  74. Jossue Ureno, Mi Familia En Accion, United States of America
  75. Kendra London, Our Afrikan Family Organization, United States of America
  76. Maya Rommwatt, Defend Our Health, United States of America
  77. Peggy Bery, Between the Waters, United States of America
  78. Martin Bourque, Ecology Center, United States of America
  79. Lea Harper, FreshWater Accountability Project, United States of America
  80. Dana Winograd, Plastic Free Seas, Hong-Kong – China
  81. Cecilia Torres, Mingas por el mar, Ecuador
  82. Marisa Jacott, Colectiva Malditos Plásticos, México
  83. Rangel Tupa, Save the Med, Mallorca, Balearic Island, Spain
  84. Elisa Martinez, Marilles Foundation, Spain
  85. Hatice Benan, BioDer (Biologists Association of North Cyprus), Cyprus
  86. Antidia Citores, Surfrider Europe, Europe
  87. Nicolas Conort, Surfrider, France
  88. Maureen McCarthy, FoCo Trash Mob, United States of America
  89. Igor Kalaba, Center for Environment/FOE BiH, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  90. Sam Pearse, The Story of Stuff Project, United States of America
  91. Padilla Herrera Nohra, ASOCIACIÓN NACIONAL DE RECICLADORES DE COLOMBIA ANR, COLOMBIA
  92. Lucia Norris, Galapagos Conservation Trust, United Kingdom
  93. Asri Nurvadyani, Yaksa Pelestari Bumi Berkelanjutan (YPBB), Indonesia
  94. Ioanna Ntinou, YOUNG ACTIVE EUROCITIZENS, Greece
  95. Prigi Arisandi, ECOTON – Ecological Observation and Wetlands Conservation, Indonesia
  96. Maite Cortés, Colectivo Ecologista Jaliscco, México
  97. Dagbé Samson Bassale, APPHAD -BENIN (Association Pour la Promotion de d’hygiène, d’assainissement et le développement), Benin
  98. Amélie Bapté, SEA PLASTICS, France
  99. Kumsook Ko, Almang Market, Republic of Korea
  100. Sammy Yu, Green Korea United, Republic of Korea
  101. Hyun Woo Jang, Green Environment Youth Korea, Republic of Korea
  102. Douel Eremani AMULI, UNICOPS RDC, Democratic Republic of the Congo
  103. Jesus Aka, Blue NGO, West Africa
  104. Romain Pilliard, USE IT AGAIN, France
  105. Marie Therese Merhej Seif, Human Environmental Association for Development – HEAD, West Asia
  106. Diahann, Zara & Ashton Hawkins, Hidden Plastic, United Kingdom
  107. Eleonora Yosifova, Za Zemiata, Bulgaria
  108. Romain Troublé, Fondation Tara Océan, France
  109. Severine VASSELIN, Watertrek, France
  110. Alex Dobat, l’ASSO-MER, France
  111. Sarah Chouraqui, Wings of the Ocean, France
  112. Koou Elorm Amegadze, Les Amis de la Terre -Togo, Togo
  113. Kayode Adedoye, Society for Development & Community Empowerment, Nigeria
  114. Emmanuel Ngeh, Promotion of Sustainable Development in Donga Mantung Association (PROSDOMA), Cameroon
  115. Bernard Lutete Di Lutete, Save the Climat, Democratic Republic of Congo, Canada, Senegal
  116. Khaled Aysesh Sagheer, National Forum for Human Rights, Yemen
  117. Ogagaoghene Jesse Itigbri, Universal Peace and Violence Amelioration Centre, Nigeria
  118. Kabine Doumbia, Appui Solidaire pour le Renforcement de l’aide au développement, Mali
  119. Mahesh Nakarmi, Health Environment and Climate Action Foundation (HECAF360), Nepal
  120. Mary Jane Salingay, Ecowaste Coalition of the Philippines, Philippine
  121. Christine Tapara, Take 3 For The Sea, Australia & the Pacific
  122. Xiomara Acevedo Navarro, Fundacion Barranquilla+20, Colombia
  123. Olakunle Tinws Adewole, Pan African Health Professionals Organisation – PAHPO, Nigeria
  124. David McGuire, Shark Stewards- The Earth Island Institute, Mexico
  125. Abosede Deborah Ijadele-Adetona, Standup for Women Society, Nigeria
  126. Phillips Obuesi, Statewide Waste and Environmental Education Foundation, Nigeria
  127. Alison Colclough, Everyday Plastic, United Kingdom
  128. Steve Trent, Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), France & England
  129. Fabienne McLellan, OceanCare, Switzerland 
  130. Alexandre Iaschine, Fondation de la mer, France
  131. Claudine Salles, Zero Waste Toulouse, France
  132. Barbara Schreiner, Water Integrity Network, Africa, Asia, Latin America
  133. Daniel Bertossa, Public Services International (PSI), Global
  134. Jan Willem Goudriaan European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) Europe
  135. Md Bellal Hossain, Prattasha Samazik Unnayan Sangstha (PSUS), Bangladesh
  136. Mohammed Javed Qureshi, Hamraah Foundation, India
  137. Justine Grecias, Le club des écolos, France
  138. Rabeb Aloui, WomenVai, Tunisia
  139. Mariagrazia Parolin, Associazione Acqua Bene Comune Vicenza, Italie
  140. Catia De cao, Rete Zero Pfas Italia , Italy
  141. Andrea Luigi Meneghini Centro Romano Carotti Italy

[1] Plastic and human health, Geneva environment network, 2024

[2] Unpacking the complexity of the PET drink bottles value chain: A chemicals perspective, Science direct,  2022,

[3] Rapid single-particle chemical imaging of nanoplastics by SRS microscopy, PNAS, 2024

[4] Global Bottled Water Industry: A Review of Impacts and Trends, United Nations University, 2023

[5] European Commission Audit on bottled water sector fraud

[6]  Datas mentioned by the United nations university  Report already cited

[7] United nations university Report already cited

[8] Plastic bottles are a main driver  of plastic pollution, Nature Sustainibilty  publication, 2021  and  Plastic bottles are the items most frequently found in clean ups, Break Free From Plastic Brand audit

[9] Plastic  and climate : The hidden costs of a plastic  planet