The Global Partnership on Plastic Pollution and Marine Litter (GPML) was launched at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in June 2012 in response to a request set out in the Manila Declaration on Furthering the Implementation of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (now called Pollution Free Ecosystems Unit). The partnership is led by a Steering Committee and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) provides secretariat services.

The GPML is a multi-stakeholder partnership that brings together all actors working to prevent marine litter and plastic pollution. By providing a unique global platform to share knowledge and experience, partners are able to work together to create and advance solutions to this pressing global issue.