Speaking at the Responsible Production in the Plastic Value Chain
conference, Saeed Torkaman said the cabinet’s decision, issued on October 11
under Article 22 of the Seventh Development Plan, mandates key ministries —
including Petroleum, Energy, and Industry, Mine and Trade — along with the
Department of Environment, to jointly implement national climate adaptation and
emission-reduction initiatives.
“Many of the priorities emphasized in this resolution have already
been addressed by specialized institutions and the private sector,” Torkaman
said. “Now, with coordinated cooperation among all agencies, implementation can
accelerate.”
The Climate Change Management Program identifies four main
priorities: expanding the green economy, promoting low-carbon industries,
strengthening environmental resilience, and mitigating ecological damage. It
also highlights three key measures for waste management — sanitary landfill
organization, development of refuse-derived fuels for energy-intensive
industries, and management of agricultural and livestock waste.
Torkaman emphasized that effective enforcement requires detailed
executive bylaws and sustained inter-agency coordination.
He also warned against “distorted global narratives” portraying
plastics solely as environmental threats. “Some international actors have
launched a campaign against plastics under the pretext of environmental
protection,” he said. “Their real aim is to undermine the basic industries of
oil-producing countries like Iran. We must present our own scientific, local,
and Iranian narrative to the world.”
Addressing concerns over microplastics, Torkaman said the problem of
plastic residues in agriculture and nature can be controlled through proper
collection and recycling systems. “If the responsible organizations fulfill
their duties, these materials can be reused as industrial feedstock,” he added.
He argued that overly strict environmental regulations in Europe have
slowed economic growth compared with Eastern and Western competitors. “Global
anti-plastic campaigns are, in effect, an attempt to limit the industrial
progress of petrochemical-producing nations,” Torkaman said. “We should respond
with scientific evidence and transparent data.”
The association, he announced, has recently joined a European
industrial plastics campaign to engage directly in international discussions
and defend Iran’s scientific positions “in their own language and forums.”
Torkaman added that much of the anti-plastic discourse from Western
policymakers ignores scientific realities and restricts open academic dialogue.
To counter this, the association plans to launch domestic scientific and
educational initiatives with the Polymer Research Institute and universities to
fact-check claims about plastics’ environmental impact and strengthen Iran’s
national narrative internationally.
“The day will come when Iran’s polymer industry demonstrates its
harmony with the environment more than ever — through recycling, sustainable
waste management, and maximizing both environmental and economic benefits,” he
said.