Plastics Treaty INC-5.2 Offsite Buzz
Find on this page a compilation of resources and activities – including conferences, receptions, artistic and cultural demonstrations – that took place in the margins of the plastics treaty negotiation convening in Geneva in August 2025.
Plastics Treaty Negotiations
The adoption of a historic resolution at the United Nations Environment Assembly in 2022 set up the path to a global treaty to end plastic pollution. The intergovernmental negotiating committee to develop the international legally binding instrument that was established following the adoption of the resolution resumed its fifth session (INC-5.2) from 5 to 14 August 2025 in Geneva, at the Palais des Nations, the heart of multilateral Geneva. The resumed session will be preceded by regional consultations on 4 August 2025.
Find out more on the resolution, the intergovernmental negotiating committee, its sessions and preparatory events in the dedicated update on the Road to Geneva INC-5-2.
INC-5.2 Blue Zone
The Blue Zone is the formal conference and negotiating space at Palais des Nations. Only delegates accredited to the INC-5.2 Session had access to this area.
Place des Nations
At the heart of international Geneva, “Place des Nations” is a popular meeting place for tourists and locals. This agora provides a forum for global citizens and activists from around the world who gather there in large numbers to protest or make their views heard.
Located in the extension of the eastern entrance of the Palais des Nations, the Place des Nations was rebuilt in 2007. The architectural continuity of the square continues along the pavement at the entrance to the Palais des Nations on the one hand, and in the ITU park on the other. The ground is made up of strips of coloured granite slabs (representing the diversity of nations), alternating with strips of concrete or grass. The central rectangle features a fountain with 7 rows of 12 jets spouting directly from the ground. Two rows of stelae mark out the perimeter of the square (Terra incognita), 66 monuments on which are engraved 66 planispheres, each showing a different face of the Earth.
Place des Nations featured various activities highlighting the importance of adopting a strong agreement to end plastic pollution during INC-5.2, with the artwork of Benjamin Von Wong playing a central meeting point.
Artwork of Benjamin Von Wong
The artist Benjamin Von Wong built a giant sculpture – The Thinker’s Burden – on Place des Nations during the Plastics Treaty negotiation. → See the artist past projects.
This sculptural remix of Rodin’s The Thinker — cradling a child, seated on Mother Earth, and wrapped in a strand of DNA (the building block of life) — was slowly buried in plastic waste each day of the negotiations, symbolizing the rising toxicity, generational burden, and irreversible cost of political inaction.
The Thinker’s Burden is a call to conscience — a shared visual symbol for delegates, citizens, and organizations alike. It asks us to take responsibility for addressing plastic pollution, not just for ourselves, but for all future generations to come. It is a reminder that solving the plastics crisis requires more than simple fixes or recycling myths — it demands thoughtful, systemic action across the entire lifecycle of plastic to ensure that our solutions don’t become tomorrow’s regrets. The inauguration at Place des Nations took place on 7 August 2025.
Highlights
Conferences, Screenings, Exhibitions and Other Relevant Activities
This space lists events that place in the margins of the negotiation. The links and references to third-party websites are not under the control of the Geneva Environment Network, and the Geneva Environment Network is not responsible for the content of any linked site or any link contained in a linked site.
A dedicated meeting on activities organized on the sidelines of INC-5.2 took place 17 July 2025 → Rewatch the event held at Villa Rigot
Beating Plastic Pollution: Solutions Day
3 August 2025, 08:30 – 17:30 CEST
World Economic Forum Headquarters
Organized by World Economic Forum, Financing Coordination Group, WRAP, Common Seas, WBG, University of Portsmouth
Local and Subnational Governments Coalition to End Plastic Pollution Reception
3 August 2025, 17:00 CEST
Villa Rigot
Organized by the Global Cities Hub – Geneva & Local and Subnational Governments Coalition to End Plastic Pollution
By invitation only.
GEF Plastic Reboot Discussion and Reception
3 August 2025, 17:00 CEST
InterContinental Geneva
Organized by Global Environment Facility and Plastic Reboot
By invitation only
Towards a Strong Global Plastics Treaty: Legal Obligations and Strategic Pathways.
3 August 2025, 17:30 – 19:00 CEST
Hotel Novotel Geneva
Organized by Gallifrey Foundation and Ocean Vision Legal
Indian industry action on plastics: a dialogue
4 August 2025, 7:00 – 10:00 CEST
Hotel N’vy, Rue de Richemont 18
Organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry
Launch Event: Announcing The Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics
4 August 2025, 07:30- 08:45 CEST
Domaine de la Pastorale & Online
Organized by TESS & The Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics
West African Voices in Plastics Controls and Innovative Recycling
4 August 2025, 09:00 – 11:00 CEST
Palais des Nations, Room H-207-208-209
Organized by UN Trade & Development
Advancing Local Waste Recovery Solutions to Deliver Against the Global plastics treaty: working group to Shape the Future of the Circular Action Hub (CAH)
4 August 2025, 09:00 – 12:00 CEST
Ritz-Carlton – Hôtel de la Paix
Organized by Circular Action Hub | BVRio
Building Regional Pillars for a Plastics Treaty
4 August 2025, 11:15 – 13:15 CEST
Palais des Nations, Room H-207-208-209
Organized by UN Trade & Development
Youth Preparatory Meeting
4 August 2025, 12:00 – 14:00 CEST
Palais des Nations, Auditorium H-200
Organized by the Children and Youth Major Group to UNEP
Multistakeholder Forum
4 August 2025, 13:00 – 17:30 CEST
Palais des Nations, Assembly Hall
Organized by Switzerland
The Forum will bring together representatives from Members of the INC, non-governmental organizations, civil society, and other key stakeholders to foster inclusive dialogue and build momentum ahead of INC-5.2. Open to all registered INC-5.2 participants.
Navigating the Materials Spectrum: A Criteria-Based Approach to Product Design and Trade
4 August 2025, 14:00 – 15:00 CEST
Palais des Nations, Room H-207-208-209
Organized by UN Trade & Development
We are Water
4 August 2025, 14:00 – 15:00 CEST
Flag Alley, Palais des Nations
Organized by International Secretariat for Water (ISW) and Solidarity Water Europe (SWE) in partnership with Switzerland and Children and Youth Major Group to UNEP
Trade at the Core of the Treaty: Data, Investment, Services and Consumer Information
4 August 2025, 15:30 – 17:00 CEST
Palais des Nations, Room H-207-208-209
Organized by UN Trade & Development
Wave of Silence | Manifestation
4 August 2025, 16:00 CEST
Place des Nations
Organized by Greenpeace Switzerland and Break Free From Plastic
If possible, wear an orange or red t-shirt or top, without logos or slogans.
Homo Plasticus - Plastic Inside Us | Film Screening and Panel Discussion
4 August 2025, 19:30 – 22:00 CEST
Pathé Balexert, Av. Louis-Casaï 27
Organized by Break Free From Plastics, Sorbonne University, Le Mans University & INRAE
500 méduses
5 August 2025
Place des Nations
Artist Bertrand Cazenave has created 500 unique jellyfish from recycled materials collected from local waste disposal sites.
UN Treaty Must Ban Cigarette Filters
5 August 2025
Place des Nations
Organized by Action on Smoking and Health, AT Schweiz (Swiss Association for Tobacco Control), Stop2Drop, Stop Tobacco Pollution Alliance, and other civil society organizations.
Ending Plastic Pollution in Southeast and East Asia: Bridging gaps through data and knowledge, capacity, finance, regional co-operation and local action
5 August 2025, 13:15 – 14:45 CEST
International Museum of the Red Cross and Red Crescent
Organised by OECD, the Japanese Ministry of the Environment, and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), in collaboration with the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)
Collaborative Action to Advance Impact on the Global Plastics Agenda
5 August 2025, 17:30 – 20:00 CEST
WMO Building, Room D
Organized by World Bank Group
Host Reception
5 August 2025, 18:15 – 19:45 CEST
Organized by Switzerland
For registered delegates only.
Plastic Footprint Network Get Together
5 August 2025, 19:00 CEST
Qafé Guidoline
Organized by EA – Earth Action
This relaxed event is an opportunity to connect with peers, reflect on our shared progress, and celebrate the impact we’re achieving together. The deadline to register interest is 3 August —participation will be confirmed by August 4.
Meet the Experts on EPR: From Design to Implementation
6 August 2025, 8:00 – 9:30 CEST
WMO Building, Room D
Organized by UNITAR & World Bank Group
Waste Picker Human Rights in the Plastics Treaty at INC 5.2
6 August 2025, 17:00 – 18:30 CEST
World Trade Organization, Room S3
Organized by The Fair Circularity Initiative
Measuring and financing upstream plastic reduction outcomes
6 August 2025, 17:30 – 20:00 CEST
More details provided upon approval of registration.
Organized by World Bank, Earth Action, rePurpose Global and Verra
This event will dive into how upstream plastic reduction can be measured, scaled, and financed. Attendees will gain insights from a new World Bank–commissioned study and hear from leaders across the policy, innovation, and finance landscapes.
No Plastics in Nature: Turning the Tide Together
6 August 2025, 18:00 – 20:00 CEST
Kiosque des Bastions
Organized by WWF
Walk, Talk & Brew
7 August 2025, 07:00 – 09:00 CEST
Meeting point at the Broken Chair in Place des Nations
Organized by Recykal
Join for an early morning walk by Lake Geneva to pause, reflect, and reimagine circularity together. This informal lakeside stroll offers a refreshing start to your day — meaningful conversations, new connections, and space to think differently about the world we’re shaping.
Informal Women Delegates Break – INC-5.2
7 August 2025, 13:00 CEST
Palais des Nations | Mezzanine
Organized by Women’s Major Group, WECF International & Juventud Unida en Accion
The “Informal Women Delegates Break” is a strategic and inclusive gathering that brings together women delegates, Women’s Major Group members, and expert voices in an empowering, informal setting. It provides a space to exchange knowledge, build solidarity, and advance gender-responsive action within the treaty process.
Making Waves on Plastic Pollution: Launch of the Youth Plastic Action Network
7 August 2025, 14:00 – 15:00 CEST
Palais des Nations, Room H-207-208-209
Organized by the Children and Youth Major Group to UNEP
The Thinker's Burden | Artwork Inauguration
7 August 2025, 18:30 CEST
Place des Nations
Plastic People | Film Screening & Panel Discussion
7 August 2025, 21:00- 23:30 CEST
Plateforme 10, Lausanne
Organized by Mover Plastic Free Sportswear
Citizen Science and AI to Combat Plastic Pollution
8 August 2025, 14:00 – 18:00 CEST
CERN 3179/R-D05
Organized by Polarquest and CERN
Aimed at early career scientists, researchers, research institutions and citizens.
Screening & Cocktail - Plastic pollution and waste pickers
8 August 2025, From 16:00 CEST
L’Amarante Restaurant – Botanical Garden
The screening is open to everyone from 16:00 to 18:30 CEST. From 18:30 to 20:00, the screening will be accessible to INC 5.2 delegates only with a cocktail on-site. It is the perfect opportunity to discuss plastic pollution matters in a more informal, green and peaceful environment. If you want to participate in the Screening & Cocktail session (18:30), please RSVP to gmutwol@greenpeace.org
“CAPacity” to Act: Reducing Plastic Pollution through Capacity Development
8 August 2025, 18:00 – 21:30 CEST
ICRC Museum Café HINIVUU
Organized by IUCN and PREVENT
Observance of International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
9 August 2025, 15:00 – 16:00 CEST
Palais des Nations, Room VII
Indigenous Peoples Forum on Plastics (IIPFP)
PlasticHealthAware Dashboard Launch
9 August 2025, 18:30 – 20:30 CEST
Intercontinental Genève, Ballroom
Organized by Minderoo Foundation
How can a global plastics treaty help the climate?
11 August 2025 | 15:00 CEST
LinkedIn Live
Organized by Climate Home News
International Youth Day - A World Beyond Plastic Pollution
12 August 2025, 11:15 – 13:00 CEST
Palais des Nations, Room XXI
Organized by Youth from the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Plastics and the Chemicals and Waste Youth Platform
Youth for a Plastic Pollution Free Future: Local Action, Global Impact
12 August 2025, 13:00-15:00 CEST
Palais des Nations, Building H Auditorium
Organized by the Children and Youth Major Group to UNEP
Time to Push the Button Installation
13 August 2025 | 08:00 – 13:00 CEST
Place des Nations
Organized by WWF
Taking Action: The New Intervention on Plastic
13 August 2025, 09:30 – 11:00 CEST
Palais des Nations, Building H Auditorium
Organized by Plastic Soup Foundation and Plastic Planet
The plastics crisis is undeniably a gateway to the polycrisis of our times. What can individuals worldwide DO to take control and protect themselves? This session brings a fresh perspective to the actions we can take and the new research showing positive impacts.
Reception for Ministers and High-level Representatives
13 August 2025, 19:00 CEST
Palais des Nations
Organized by Switzerland
Joint Global South Press Briefing
14 August 2025, 11:00 CEST
Palais des Nations, Room XXVII & LinkedIn Live
Organized by GAIA
Highlights
#BehindTheScenes
Day 10
Previous Days
Day 9 | Day 8 | Day 7 | Day 5 | Day 4 | Day 3 | Day 2 | Day 1 | Day 0
In the Margins
- 13 August 2025 | Plenary | Highlights
- 13 August | Taking Action: The New Intervention on Plastic | Highlights
- 12 August | International Youth Day | A World Beyond Plastic Pollution | Highlights
- 12 August | Youth for a Plastic Pollution Free Future: Local Action, Global Impact | Highlights
- 11 August | How can a global plastics treaty help the climate | Highlights
- 7 August | Making Waves on Plastic Pollution: Launch of the Youth Plastic Action Network | Highlights
- 6 August | Waste Picker Human Rights in the Plastics Treaty at INC 5.2 | Highlights
- 6 August | No Plastics in Nature: Turning the Tide Together | Highlights
- 5 August | Host Country Reception | Highlights
- 4 August | Conversation with Observers, Youth Preparatory Meeting, WE ARE WATER, “A Wave of Silence” Demonstration | Highlights
- 4 August | Launch Event: Announcing The Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics | Highlights
- 4 August | Multistakeholder Forum | Highlights
- 4 August | Building Regional Pillars for a Plastics Treaty | Highlights
- 4 August | Navigating the Materials Spectrum: A Criteria-Based Approach to Product Design and Trade | Highlights
- 4 August | Trade at the Core of the Treaty: Data, Investment, Services and Consumer Information | Highlights
Addressing the Plastics Crisis from Geneva
Many actors in Geneva are actively working to address the plastic crisis at the global and local level. As a hub of environmental and health governance, Geneva plays an important role in the multilateral processes to address plastic pollution.
Referred to as the world capital for multilateralism, Geneva is at the center of numerous debates and negotiations in the fields of science, health, human rights, development, trade and green finance, employment, peacebuilding and security, disaster risk reduction, humanitarian issues, as well as new technologies and innovation. This interdisciplinarity allows International Geneva to have unique cross-disciplinary expertise and actively contributes to develop and implement action to end plastic pollution. Geneva also hosted the first Ministerial Conference on Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution, co-organized by Ecuador, Germany, Ghana and Viet Nam in September 2021.
In Focus | Plastics and Environment Resources
More Activities to Enjoy a Green Summer in Geneva
As summer unfolds, Geneva comes alive with sunshine, nature, and endless possibilities. From open-air festivals and lakeside activities to exhibitions, workshops, and nature walks, discover a variety of events that celebrate the season of light and environmental awareness. Whether you’re looking to cool off in green spaces, dive into sustainability, or simply enjoy the beauty of nature in full bloom, find your inspiration for a vibrant Green Summer in Geneva.