Informal Briefing Note

The document synthesises INC member inputs regarding the protection of human health within the framework of a proposed global plastics treaty. It highlights a broad consensus that the treaty's objectives should encompass both environmental and human health protections, noting that plastic pollution causes wide-ranging health issues, including neurotoxic and endocrine-disrupting impacts. The briefing details the work of two expert groups: Expert Group 1, focusing on financial mechanisms and means of implementation to mitigate health costs, and Expert Group 2, focusing on science-based criteria for identifying chemicals of concern, problematic products, and safe product design. Key priorities identified include the prevention of 'regrettable substitution' of chemicals, the necessity of material transparency, and the importance of protecting vulnerable populations, such as waste workers and indigenous peoples.

• There is growing international consensus among governments that the objectives of the future plastics treaty must focus on protecting both the environment and human health, driven by evidence that the plastics crisis is a health crisis.
• Plastic pollution and associated chemicals cause severe health issues, including carcinogenic, neurotoxic, and endocrine-disrupting effects, with nano- and micro-plastics accumulating in organs such as the brain.
• Certain populations face disproportionate health risks from plastics, specifically waste workers (formal and informal), waste pickers, and indigenous peoples living near production, conversion, or disposal sites.
• Expert Group 1 identifies that financial strategies for treaty implementation must address health-related costs, including funding for a just transition for waste workers and the development of safe alternatives.
• INC members emphasize that the identification of chemicals and polymers of concern should be based on objective, science-based criteria, specifically considering intrinsic hazards such as bioaccumulation and reproductive toxicity.
• To prevent 'regrettable substitution'—where one harmful chemical is replaced by another—members suggest using 'grouping' approaches to assess chemicals with similar structures together.
• Mandatory transparency and traceability of materials, including for recycled plastics, are viewed as essential for managing the health and environmental impacts of plastics across their life cycle.

APA

Fuller, L., Bonner, O., & Birkbeck, C. D. (2024). Informal Briefing Note. Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs. https://lyrical-cormorant.files.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Publications/Human-Health_INC-IW_Submissions-relevant-to-human-health_TESS.pdf?dm=1724412510

Chicago

Fuller, Lizzie, Olivia Bonner, and Carolyn Deere Birkbeck. Informal Briefing Note. Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs, 2024. https://lyrical-cormorant.files.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Publications/Human-Health_INC-IW_Submissions-relevant-to-human-health_TESS.pdf?dm=1724412510.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Fuller |first1=Lizzie |last2=Bonner |first2=Olivia |last3=Birkbeck |first3=Carolyn Deere |title=Informal Briefing Note |publisher=Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs |date=August 2024 |url=https://lyrical-cormorant.files.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Publications/Human-Health_INC-IW_Submissions-relevant-to-human-health_TESS.pdf?dm=1724412510 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{fuller2024informal, author = {Fuller, Lizzie and Bonner, Olivia and Birkbeck, Carolyn Deere}, title = {{Informal Briefing Note}}, institution = {Forum on Trade, Environment, \& the SDGs}, year = {2024}, month = aug, url = {https://lyrical-cormorant.files.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Publications/Human-Health_INC-IW_Submissions-relevant-to-human-health_TESS.pdf?dm=1724412510}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }