The Plastics Treaty fifth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) talks ending in December 2024 resulted in a new proposed text from the Chair. The text will be a helpful starting point when the negotiations resume in 2025; however, while the text contains meaningful elements, including that the Treaty would allow for a reduction in plastic production, it will require significant revisions to ensure that the Treaty can meet its objective of protecting human health and the environment.
Under the Stockholm Convention, Parties are required to develop strategies to identify products, articles, stockpiles and wastes that contain persistent organic pollutants (POPs). But there are significant challenges for Parties to fulfil their convention obligations in relation to traceability of POPs, including to identify stockpiles, articles in use, and wastes that contain POPs.
Plastics and plastic chemicals are increasingly produced and traded across the world. With increasingly complex toxic cargos and frequently reported shipping accidents, a global concern has emerged around the impacts that plastics may have on marine environments.
The Case for Public Participation in Multilateral Environmental Governance Forums
Public participation in decisions that affect human health and the environment is essential in a democracy, as this is crucial to ensure individuals’ right to engage in decision-making processes that impact their lives at local, national, and global levels.
Call for action triggered by the discovery of more mercury-laden cosmetics being sold online
Monday, 27 January 2025
Quezon City. Environmental health groups advocating for the protection of people’s health and the environment from mercury-containing cosmetics today urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Government of Thailand to take bold measures to halt the export of skin lightening products containing this highly toxic chemical.
Actions proposed to advance the Global Framework on Chemicals
Thursday, 23 January 2025
Quezon City. As the sale of luck activators thrives ahead of the Chinese New Year, the EcoWaste Coalition, an advocacy group for a zero waste and toxics-free society, expressed concern over the proliferation of lucky charm bracelets with high-cadmium Pi Yao (aka Pi Xiu) and other auspicious symbols.
Watchdog group finds mercury in “intensive whitening” cream from Thailand)
Tuesday, 21 January 2025
Quezon City-Despite the global ban, the EcoWaste Coalition continues to uncover the illegal use of mercury in unauthorized imported products for lightening the skin tone and for removing age spots, dark marks, freckles, wrinkles and other dermal problems.
Quezon City. As the nation steps into the New Year, the watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition again cautioned consumers seeking a lighter skin tone from using unauthorized products containing high levels of mercury, a chemical poison that poses toxic effects on the nervous, digestive and endocrine systems, and on the kidneys, lungs, and the skin itself.
