Global plastic profiles: How are nations addressing safety concerns regarding ‘chemicals and polymers of concern’?

The terms “chemicals of concern” and “polymers of concern” refer to specific chemical substances and types of polymers recognised for posing significant risks to human health and the environment throughout their life cycles. Abundant scientific evidence highlights the adverse impacts of various plastic chemicals such as monomers and additives. They increase the burden of disease and have substantial health costs, particularly related to endocrine disruption. Marginalised communities, children and women are the most vulnerable.

Chemicals of concern encompass additives like plasticisers (ex. phthalates), flame retardants (ex. brominated compounds), colorants and stabilisers used in plastic manufacturing. They are known for their toxicity, persistence and potential to bioaccumulate, posing risks during production, use and disposal by leaching into the environment. Negotiations prioritise identifying and regulating these chemicals, promoting safer alternatives, and implementing measures to reduce exposure.

In the case of polymers of concern, certain plastics like expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam and specific types of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) present environmental and health risks due to low recyclability, persistence and potential release of hazardous substances during degradation. Discussions aim to address these challenges through targeted regulatory actions, innovation, and policy measures to mitigate the impacts of plastic production and disposal.

The proposed approach involves creating a negative list of hazardous chemicals prohibited for use and a positive list of permissible chemicals subject to stringent testing requirements. By focusing on chemicals and polymers of concern, negotiations for a future instrument to end plastic pollution aim to safeguard ecosystems and public health from the detrimental effects associated with hazardous plastic materials. The goal is also to foster sustainability and innovation in plastic management practices.

The European Union and Africa have agreed to this obligation, although the African group has requested for intersessional work to be able to decide the scope, criteria and priorities of this provision. Norway, the flagbearer of the High Ambition Coalition, has not intervened on the provision of chemicals and polymers of concern.

India and Iran have aligned by wanting to discuss about the chemicals of concern but deleting language on polymers of concern. Iran has, however, not agreed to work on creating a positive and/or negative list of chemicals that would drive the discussion on chemicals forward.

China and the US have aligned by removing language of groups of chemicals, suggesting a piecemeal approach to address the issue of chemicals. This weakens the provision of the treaty since it addresses one chemical at a time, recipes for which can be changed in no time and lead to regrettable substitution of chemicals. Addressing a group of chemicals instead — for instance endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) — can play a pivotal role to identify and eliminate a larger chunk of problematic chemicals.         

Russia and Japan have aligned by mentioning in their interventions that it is extremely important to avoid duplication with existing international conventions like Stockholm for Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), Rotterdam convention for Prior Informed Consent (PIC) and Basel for Plastic Waste trade, also mentioning the Global Framework on chemicals.

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