A human rights-based approach informed by international human rights law to prevent and manage plastic pollution at each stage of the plastics lifecycle can build the capacity of those with the power to act responsibly in the face of the plastics challenge—governments and businesses. At the same time, a human rights-based approach can further serve to empower people most impacted by plastic harms by helping them identify and exercise their human rights under norms and principles of international human rights law. This issue brief provides an overview of a human rights based approach to plastic pollution informed by international human rights law at each stage of the plastics lifecycle and illustrates what must be done to protect the interests of rights holders while ensuring that duty bearers are held accountable.