The Stop Tobacco Pollution Alliance (STPA), a global coalition of over 100 public health and environmental organisations, has been actively engaged from the outset in the negotiations of the Global Plastics Treaty to ensure that tobacco product waste, and in particular cigarette filters, is adequately addressed.

Following the European Commission’s stakeholder meeting on 10 July 2025, which convened EU actors ahead of the next round of negotiations, the STPA wishes to reiterate key priorities regarding cigarette filters, a pervasive, toxic and unnecessary source of plastic pollution.

Ahead of INC-5.2 in Geneva, the STPA calls on EU negotiators to adopt a strong and science-based position, and to actively support ambitious provisions to address tobacco-related plastic pollution in the treaty.