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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So, we're nearly done here in Paris for the second round of #PlasticsTreaty negotiations. What's the vibe check on negotiations? Uhhh, complicated question....🧵
With potential 'options' up for discussion ranging from fossil fuel subsidy reform to plastic production caps, restrictions on chemicals and proposals including restricting the plastic waste trade from developed countries, it wasn't going to be...easy eia-international.org/report/global-…
There were lots of scenes like this as issues were tricky to solve on the plenary floor and required extended huddles to find solutions. Rules of Procedure hung up the first couple of days, meaning we didn't even talk plastic til mid-week.