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The terms ‘chemicals of concern’ and ‘polymers of concern’ refer to substances and materials in plastics recognised for their significant risks to human health and the environment throughout their life cycles. Scientific evidence underscores the adverse impacts of many plastic-related chemicals, including monomers and additives, which contribute to serious health issues, such as endocrine disruption, disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups like marginalised communities, women, and children.
‘Chemicals of concern’ include plastic additives such as phthalates, bisphenols, flame retardants, colourants, and stabilisers, which are toxic, persistent, and bioaccumulative. These substances pose risks during production, use, and disposal, often leaching into the environment and contributing to pollution. Addressing these chemicals has become a priority in treaty negotiations, with measures focusing on identifying, regulating, and promoting safer alternatives to reduce exposure and safeguard health.
‘Polymers of concern’, such as expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam and certain forms of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), are also under scrutiny due to their low recyclability, persistence, and potential release of hazardous substances during degradation. These polymers contribute to environmental harm and pose challenges to plastic waste management.
Negotiators are exploring solutions through targeted regulations, innovation in alternatives, and policy measures aimed at mitigating the impacts of such polymers across their life cycles. Proposals include creating a negative list of hazardous chemicals to be prohibited and a positive list of permissible substances subject to stringent testing. This approach aims to regulate chemicals and polymers of concern comprehensively, fostering sustainability while protecting ecosystems and public health.
Ongoing discussions in global treaty negotiations have brought renewed attention to these hazardous substances. Norway has proposed stringent criteria to classify hazardous chemicals, advocating the creation of lists for elimination or minimization. The European Union and the Philippines have supported this approach, with the EU emphasising alignment with other international chemical agreements and proposing the inclusion of exporters as key stakeholders. The Philippines has called for an inter-sessional program to develop a hazard-based approach, incorporating sustainability, essentiality, and transparency into the process.
In contrast, several countries have resisted these measures, arguing that the treaty’s mandate should not extend to chemical regulation. Russia, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, and Kuwait have voiced strong opposition, with Russia asserting that discussions on hazardous chemicals belong in existing international fora like the Stockholm, Basel, or Rotterdam Conventions. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait similarly argue for limiting the treaty’s scope, weakening its potential to manage hazardous substances effectively.
India and Egypt have adopted more moderate positions, favouring national discretion over global mandates. India has proposed a risk-based approach to regulate chemicals at the national level, while Egypt has suggested merging provisions on chemicals of concern with those addressing emissions throughout the plastic life cycle. Guatemala has taken a cautious stance, advocating for treaty definitions that avoid overlaps with existing conventions and emphasising that any new provisions must be ratified by member states to ensure consistency with international law.
The negotiations highlight a clear divide between countries advocating stringent global controls and those prioritising flexibility or opposing the inclusion of hazardous chemical management within the treaty’s scope. Despite these differences, addressing chemicals and polymers of concern remains a critical component of efforts to reduce plastic pollution and its associated harms.
By regulating these substances effectively, the treaty could foster innovation in safer materials and strengthen global efforts to mitigate the environmental and health impacts of plastics.
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