The UN international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution (UNEA resolution 5/14) aims to reduce plastics pollution. However, midstream and downstream assessments show that optimizing waste management, removal technologies, and improved circularity is not sufficient to curb plastics pollution in the short-, mid- or long-term. Therefore, we have to look Upstream to the root of the problem and define binding national phase-down schedules and Global Aggregate Targets in order to reduce Primary Plastic Polymers production.