Conference Speakers

Wes Fisher

Director of Government Relations, INDA

BIOGRAPHY

Wes Fisher is the Director of Government Affairs at INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, where he leads the association's global and domestic government and regulatory affairs activities and manages strategic relationships with allied organizations, government officials, industry partners, and stakeholders in support of the nonwovens industry.

Prior to joining INDA in 2022, Wes held senior government affairs roles at the Pet Advocacy Network and the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA).

He received a bachelor’s degree in political science from James Madison University, is a member of the Board of Directors of the Washington Area State Relations Group (WASRG) and was appointed by the Governor of Virginia to serve on the Virginia Rare Disease Council. In 2023 he was honored as a Top Lobbyist by the National Institute of Lobbying and Ethics and the Advocacy Association.

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Is Global Plastic Regulation Happening and What Will it Look Like?

In 2022, the United Nations Environment Assembly approved a resolution to “develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.” This action officially kicked off the negotiations colloquially referred to as the UN Global Plastics Treaty, formally titled the ”Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.” While the title of the pending treaty may indicate a focus on plastic pollution, the negotiations held so far have included NGOs and high-ambition countries calling for a drastic reduction in the use and production of plastic polymers, with other nations and industries favoring an application-based approach. INDA director of government affairs Wes Fisher, who has served as an accredited observer on behalf of INDA at two in-person negotiation sessions, will explain the history of the treaty, where we are in the process, the outcome of recent negotiation sessions, and the outlook for what will happen at the final session to be held this November in South Korea.