There was no agreement reached by the nations discussing a global pact to reduce plastic pollution.
While some oil producers were ready to focus solely on plastic waste, more than 100 countries sought to restrict production as well.
The goal of the fifth meeting of the U.N. Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) in Busan, South Korea, was to produce a legally enforceable international treaty.
But nations could only agree to put important decisions on hold and reopen negotiations (INC-5.2) at a later time.
Limiting plastic production, controlling plastic products and chemicals of concern, and providing funding to assist developing nations in implementing treaty were the most contentious problems.
One sticking point has been the desire for nations to set goals to reduce the manufacturing of virgin plastic polymers, which Saudi Arabia and other nations have rejected.
