Will the Global Plastics Treaty Address Toxic Chemicals?

Production of plastics has increased more than tenfold since 1970, faster than the growth rate of any other group of bulk materials. More than 400 million metric tons of plastic were produced in 2020, and by some estimates that number may double by 2040. The volume of current and planned plastics production poses a serious threat to public health and the environment across the globe. Many chemicals used in plastics have adverse human health effects.

The process of developing a global agreement on plastics was initiated by the United Nations Environment Assembly in March 2022, and negotiations are now underway. The second meeting negotiating the outlines of an International Plastics Treaty will take place in Paris in late May.

In this webinar, Dr. Philip Landrigan presented highlights and recommendations from the recent report from the Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health. As lead author of the report, Dr. Landrigan shared an overview of the Commission’s findings on links between some plastics and disease, disability, and premature mortality, as well as disproportionate effects on vulnerable, low-income and minority communities — particularly children. He also presented the report's recommendations for the Plastics Treaty, including a cap on global plastic production and bans on unnecessary and problematic plastic items.

We also heard an analysis of progress and opportunities to address toxic chemicals in the Plastics Treaty process from Vito Buonsante, an advisor for the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN). A global network which has been involved in international policy work for more than 25 years, IPEN believes that the Plastics Treaty represents a critical opportunity to not only address visible plastic pollution but also protect our health and the environment from the invisible toxic chemicals across the plastics lifecycle.

One of the co-authors of the recent Minderoo-Monaco report, Dr. Adetoun Mustapha, also joined us as an additional resource person for the discussion portion of the webinar.

This webinar was moderated by Sharyle Patton, Director of the Biomonitoring Resource Center and member of the CHE Advisory Team.

0:00-2:36 Kristin Schafer: Introduction
2:37-7:30 Sharyle Patton: The plastics treaty -- a brief history
7:30-24:18 Dr. Philip Landrigan: Highlights and recommendations from the
Minderoo-Monaco Commission
24:19-45:47 Vito Buonsante: Chemicals regulation in the plastics treaty
46:48-51:05 Dr. Adetoun Mustapha: Additional observations
51:06-1:15:39 Discussion, Q&A, and closing

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