In anticipation of the Plastics Treaty Second Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-2) in Paris 29 May to 2 June, IPEN is pleased to share this Plastics Treaty News update.
New IPEN Plastics Treaty Website
StopPoisonPlastic.org
IPEN has launched a new website to feature our work on the Plastics Treaty, highlighting our global data, science, and policy work for a toxics-free world. Visit the new site to see all of our resources for INC-2 and much more.
Resources for INC-2
IPEN Quick Views,
Briefs, and More

All of our resources for INC-2 can be found on the new IPEN website. Highlights include:
  • IPEN’s INC-2 Quick Views (available in English, Arabic, Spanish, French, Russian, and Chinese).
  • Troubling Toxics: Eliminating Harmful Plastic Chemicals Through the Plastics Treaty
  • The Toxic Plastic Recycling Stream (infographic)
  • A Global Green Chemicals and Waste Fund (infographic)

You can also find our press releases, policy briefs, and research reports with global data on the health and environmental threats from chemicals in plastics on the IPEN website.
Voices from IPEN's Global Network: Griffins Ochieng

Griffins Ochieng is Co-Chair of IPEN’s Plastics Working Group and Executive Director of the Centre for Environment Justice and Development (CEJAD), a Kenyan public interest Non Governmental Organization that works to promote and support environmental justice and sustainable development. In addition to their work on eliminating toxics from plastics and waste, CEJAD works to end mercury use in small-scale gold mining, ban lead paint, and end the use of highly hazardous pesticides. 

In their plastics work, CEJAD recently tested recycled plastic products purchased in Kenya, finding high levels of toxic chemicals in plastic toys, utensils, and other consumer products. Regarding the study Griffins noted, “Africa faces an unequal share of the burdens from plastic pollution, from PCBs, and from other highly toxic chemicals from plastics that contaminate our food, water, air, and even toys that our children play with. We experience greater health risks because of loopholes in international regulations and abuses by corporations and countries that export plastic wastes which contain and release dangerous chemicals. Our study today shows that we urgently need stronger global policies to end the crisis from poisonous plastics."
Studies Show Health Risks from Plastic Recycling
IPEN is concerned about the health and environmental threats throughout the plastic recycling stream. Studies from IPEN and others have shown that plastic recycling poses health threats to consumers, waste and recycling workers, and communities. 

Recent reports exposing health threats from plastic recycling include:

As IPEN Science Advisor Therese Karlsson notes, “We should not recycle toxic chemicals that poison our bodies and pollute our air, water, and food. Real solutions to the plastics crisis will require global controls on chemicals in plastics and significant reductions in plastic production.” 

Find links to these and other studies on the new IPEN website.
Griffins Ochieng
speaking at a Plastics Treaty INC-1 side event
UN Report Outlines Threats
from Chemicals in Plastics
A new report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions notes that chemicals released throughout the life cycle of plastics pose serious health and environmental threats.

The review, “Chemicals in Plastics: A Technical Report” has immediate significance for the Plastics Treaty negotiations, as it explores in detail issues related to the invisible health threats posed by chemicals in plastic and the need for global chemical controls and approaches that promote reducing plastic production.

See more highlights on the relevance of the report to the Plastics Treaty.