Reacción a "Plastic pollution is an underrecognized threat to health, according to The Lancet."

The article published in The Lancet warns of the threat posed by plastic pollution, which endangers human health and ecosystems, and emphasizes two key aspects that are highly relevant when seeking solutions to this major environmental contamination issue—both of which should be considered in the upcoming meeting for the Global Plastics Treaty.

On the one hand, it highlights the need to address the problem across all phases of the plastic life cycle—from production, through use, to disposal. Considering the position supported by the bloc of oil- and plastic-producing countries in previous Global Treaty negotiations, the recovery and recycling stages of plastic waste are deemed vital. Therefore, these stages must also be included in risk assessments in order to promote a ‘clean’ Circular Economy.

Closely tied to this concept of a ‘clean’ Circular Economy is the second highly relevant aspect: the control of toxic chemical additives associated with plastics throughout all life cycle stages, including recycling. It is crucial to monitor the presence of these toxic substances, especially in cases where recycled plastic is used for purposes different from its original one (e.g., recycled tires used in playgrounds). A major issue is the lack of transparency regarding which chemical substances are present in plastics and their waste. Introducing a 'digital passport' that includes this information for all produced materials would be a significant step toward more sustainable management.

Another important issue addressed in the article concerns medical products. It is clear that the use of plastic materials in this sector is of vital importance and cannot be dispensed with. However, we must ensure that such materials are safe and effective, and therefore they should not be exempt from the Global Plastics Treaty.