Alright, another day, another #PlasticsTreaty webinar. I've got my cup of tea charged up and ready to try and capture some highlights from today's session, most likely in the form of a 🧵
Ooh what a line-up! Lots of brains on hazardous chemicals and microplastics. Regulating chemicals in plastics is critical given impacts on health, so a discussion on possible (ambitious) obligations and control measures is timely ahead of the forthcoming 'options' paper from UNEP
Many chemicals used in plastics are endocrine disrupting says @docmarinfernan. Members of @TheEndoSociety have been studying for years.
‼️ Many found in everyday products
‼️ Need to ban chemicals in groups
‼️ Dialogue needed between regulators and scientists, eg @ScientistsCoa
Intentionally-added microplastics are 'tip of the iceberg' says @VitoABuonsante. Microplastics generated from *all* the plastics that we use. Chemicals are the 'sneaky problem' behind plastics. @ToxicsFree regularly test plastics and find they contain toxic additives.
Perspective from @Environment_Ke
Challenges include:
- lack of info
- lack of labelling
...we do not know what plastics we are dealing with, let alone the additives. For us to be safe, we need *information*. #PlasticsTreaty should guide which chemicals we want to live with
Gaspar from @TriCiclosB / Business Coalition highlights need for common safety standards as part of #PlasticsTreaty.
💡[me editorialising] Historically standards discussion more about eco-criteria, but should also include material safety and ensure harmony across jurisdictions
Simple message from @VitoABuonsante: To reduce plastic pollution we need to produce less. We also know that plastics poison circular economy - must deal with information gaps and regulate toxic chemicals. Info exchange + less confidentiality from industry critical for progress
Some takeaways:
🧠 Consumers asking for information about product safety but information flow not there
🧠 Need global rules that also consider global realities
🧠 Must decide which sector-specific phase-outs are required
🧠 Start elimination w/ those that pose high leakage risk
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