The numbers are staggering. Every year, humanity produces over 450 million tonnes of plastic, two-thirds of which is designed for single use. Less than 10% is ever recycled.

The rest ends up in landfills, incinerators, or scattered across our oceans, soils, and even in the air we breathe. 

Plastic pollution has become one of the defining challenges of our time- not just an environmental threat, but a public health, economic, and social justice issue. 

Right now, in Geneva, the world’s governments are meeting for the INC-5.2, the fifth session of negotiations for a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty under the United Nations Environment Program. These talks may well determine whether we can rein in the plastics crisis before it’s too late. 

Why INC- 5.2 Matters

This treaty is not just another environmental agreement. If done right, it will address plastic pollution across its entire life cycle- from extraction of fossil fuels to design, production, use, and disposal. The key issues on the table include- 

• Legally binding production caps for virgin plastic

• Harmonized global standards for sustainable product design

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) so that producers are accountable for their products even after sale

• Regulation of harmful chemicals used in plastics manufacturing

• A Just Transition with equitable access to finance so that all countries and communities can participate and benefit from the shift to sustainability 

At Saathi, we believe the treaty must be ambitious, enforceable, and inclusive. Anything less will fail to match the scale and urgency of the crisis. 

From Geneva’s Negotiation Rooms to India’s Fields and Factories

International agreements can feel abstract. But the principles under discussion in Geneva are not theoretical. They are already being practiced- successfully- by innovators on the ground.

We should know. Saathi is one such example. 

The Problem We Saw

In India, 12.3 billion sanitary pads are thrown away each year. More than 90% of them are made of plastic. Each one can take up to 800 years to break down. That’s 800 years of pollution from a product designed for just a few hours of use. Add to this the energy-intensive production processes, chemical additives, and lack of proper disposal facilities, and you have an urgent environmental and public health problem.

The Solution We Built

Saathi was born from a simple but radical question: What if sanitary pads could be both good for people and good for the planet?

We designed 100% biodegradable pads made from banana and bamboo fibers- agricultural by-products that would otherwise go to waste. They decompose naturally in just 3-6 months, leaving no trace of microplastics or toxins in the soil or water. 

But innovation didn’t stop at the product. We built a circular economy into every stage of our model:

• Sourcing: Banana fiber comes from local farmers, giving them extra income from crop waste. 

• Production: Our all-women manufacturing unit provides dignified employment, skills training, and financial independence. 

• Packaging: 100% plastic-free and compostable.

• End of Life: Pads return to the earth without polluting it. 

Our Impact So Far

Our work has:

• Improved the lives of 215,000 women and saved 103 tonnes of plastic waste and 166 tonnes of CO2 

• Provided livelihood to hundreds of women in rural areas

• Ensured additional income to farmers in return for agricultural by-products 

• Distributed millions of pads through our 10 Million Pads Initiative to underserved communities, ensuring menstrual health access without environmental compromise. 

Why Grassroots Innovation Matters for the Treaty

The treaty will only succeed if it bridges the gap between policy ambition and practical application. The solutions that negotiators are debating- circular economy models, sustainable product design, just transitions- already exist. 

Saathi is living proof. 

• Production caps? We’ve shown that you can replace virgin plastic with natural, renewable materials.

• Sustainable design? Our pads are designed for minimal impact from the start.

• Just Transition? Our all-women manufacturing team shows how sustainability can create good jobs and empower women. 

If these models are supported and scaled, the treaty’s goals won’t just remain on the paper- they’ll shape everyday life. 

A Call to Action from Geneva: Policy Must Meet Practice

We call on leaders to go beyond signing the treaty. The real challenge is implementation- and that requires investing in solutions that already work. 

Support enterprises- especially grassroots innovators- that are demonstrating the future we all want. Provide funding, policies, and incentives to help them grow.

Because the blueprint for a plastic-free future is not something negotiators need to imagine. It already exists- in India’s fields, in women-led factories, and in the hands of farmers and communities who are proving that sustainability is not only possible, but profitable, inclusive, and regenerative. 

From Geneva’s negotiation tables to the villages and cities where change is already happening, let’s make sure that policy and practice move together- so the plastic crisis becomes part of our past, not our future. 

The power to make a difference is not in a distant conference room; it’s in our daily choices. Every product we pick, every habit we change, every conversation we spark can tip the balance towards a cleaner, healthier planet. So let’s not wait. Let’s lead. With Saathi, every pad you choose is one less piece of plastic in our oceans and landfills. Every choice you make sends a message louder than any treaty: that people everywhere are ready for a world beyond plastic. Join our movement. Your choices are the policy we need.

Sources: 

https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/07/global-plastics-treaty-inc-5-2-explainer/