Global talks to develop a landmark treaty to end plastic pollution have once again failed.

The UN negotiations, the sixth round of talks in just under three years, were due to end on Thursday but countries continued to negotiate into the night in the hopes of breaking a deadlock.

There remained a split between a group of about 100 nations calling for curbs on production of plastic, and oil states pushing for a focus on recycling.

Speaking in the early hours, Cuban delegates said that countries had “missed a historic opportunity but we have to keep going”.

“I’m hugely disappointed that an agreement wasn’t reached,” said the UK’s Marine Minister Emma Hardy.

“Plastic pollution is a global crisis that no country can solve alone, and the UK is committed to working with others at home and abroad to protect the environment and pave the way to a circular economy,” she added.

The talks were convened in 2022 in response to the mounting scientific evidence of the risks of plastic pollution to human health and the environment.

Despite the benefits of plastic to almost every sector, scientists are particularly concerned about potentially toxic chemicals they contain, which can leach out as plastics break down into smaller pieces.

Microplastics have been detected in soils, rivers, the air and even organs throughout the human body.

Countries had an original deadline to get a deal over the line at the end of December last year, but failed to meet this.

The collapse of the latest talks means they fall further behind.

Speaking on behalf of the island states, the northern Pacific nation of Palau said on Friday: “We are repeatedly returning home with insufficient progress to show our people.”

“It is unjust for us to face the brunt of yet another global environmental crisis we contribute minimally to,” it added.