Plastics and human health: what’s at stake in the global treaty talks in Geneva

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In Geneva, negotiators from around 180 nations are debating a global treaty to address plastic pollution with a strong focus on human health. Advocates - scientists, healthcare groups, and civil society - are pushing for caps on plastic production, bans on hazardous chemicals, and elimination of single-use items to protect people from toxins linked to birth defects, heart disease, endocrine disruption, and mortality. However, petrochemical-exporting countries and industry lobbyists are lobbying to exclude health-related provisions and maintain production levels, even urging exemptions for healthcare plastics. With an August 15 deadline looming, the fate of a health-centred treaty hangs in the balance.

Full citation

Acheson, Cat, Alice Street, and Rob Ralston. 'Plastics and human health: what’s at stake in the global treaty talks in Geneva'. The Conversation [blog]. (05 August 2025). https://theconversation.com/plastics-and-human-health-whats-at-stake-in-the-global-treaty-talks-in-geneva-262593