As negotiations on the UN Global Plastics Treaty progress in Geneva, environmental experts are warning that the agreement could be significantly weakened by its failure to address the textile industry.
While the treaty aims to tackle plastic pollution across the material’s full life cycle, synthetic textiles—produced largely from petrochemicals—are not explicitly covered.
The omission is striking given the scale of textile-related plastic use. The sector accounts for an estimated 10–15% of global petrochemical output, with synthetic fibers such as polyester, nylon, and acrylic making up nearly two-thirds of global textile production. Polyester alone represented over 55% of all fibers in 2022, with a market worth about $100 billion—projected to exceed $150 billion by 2030. These fibers are derived from petrochemical compounds including ethylene, paraxylene, and terephthalic acid.
Analysts caution that without explicit inclusion of textiles, caps on virgin plastic production could be undermined, as manufacturers may shift production from packaging into fiber markets. This regulatory gap risks creating an unintended loophole, allowing overall plastic output to remain high despite restrictions in other sectors.
Environmental campaigners argue that comprehensive action on plastic pollution must treat textiles as a priority for regulation alongside packaging and single-use plastics. Failure to do so could compromise the treaty’s environmental, legal, and economic goals.
By excluding one of the largest and fastest-growing sources of plastic, experts warn, the treaty may fall short of delivering the systemic change needed to address the global plastic crisis.
