A growing body of scientific research shows that plastics, and the toxic chemical additives therein, have a negative impact on the ecosystem, but also increase the global burden of disease and premature mortality of the human population.
A growing body of scientific research shows that plastics, and the toxic chemical additives therein, have a negative impact on the ecosystem, but also increase the global burden of disease and premature mortality of the human population.
In the 21st century, we face a scenario where planetary pollution from macro-, micro- and nanoplastics is increasing, while the public health crisis is deepening.
With this in mind, we want to inform as many members of the European Parliament (MEPs) as possible about the harmful effects of microplastics, but also, about alternative reuse systems and better materials that are already available.
We do this with the European Forum on Microplastics and Health, that officially starts in March 2025.
In this way, the next five years, we can bring the new EU Commission and EU MEPs into direct contact with top scientists, who are doing groundbreaking research into the health effects of microplastics, but also with frontrunners from industry who show that alternatives to disposable plastics have been around for a long time and that these should especially be supported and scaled up.
We also want to mobilize MEPs, for example by signing Open Letters and Manifestos published in the press and asking questions in the European Parliament. In this way we actively put the topic of Microplastics & Health on the political agenda.
While a global plastics treaty is in the making (the UN Global Plastic Treaty), Europe, with the first already introduced ban on single-use plastics and its ambitious goals to make Europe microplastic-free, is playing a crucial role in the necessary system change from a fossil-based to a bio-based circular economy.
And that is badly needed to protect the planet and human life.
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