Plastic is one of the fastest growing materials and production is on course to double, to more than one billion tonnes a year, by 2050. With that, will come more pollution. This week, delegates from more than 150 countries are expected to meet in Uruguay to begin negotiations for a historic global agreement to end plastic pollution.

In March, the United Nations Environment Assembly made a landmark decision to create a legally binding treaty that considers the lifecycle of plastics, from production through to innovative packaging, products and business models.

The treaty is expected to be finalized by the end of 2024. Between now and then, negotiators will have the daunting task of devising and agreeing to rules and strategies for controlling plastic pollution. Nature explores three key issues and how the treaty could tackle them.