The lack of consensus at the United Nations (UN) global plastics treaty negotiations in December may seem like a setback, but declaring the talks a failure is premature. The process has not collapsed but has been extended, with further negotiations anticipated in 2025. This offers a crucial opportunity for the scientific community to assert its role in shaping a robust, evidence-based agreement to address the global plastic pollution crisis. Great progress has been made in building a strong scientific baseline that will be essential to address pivotal areas of contention.