TBA
There are multiple topics to choose here. This brings together resources, statistics and case studies on the health impacts of plastics and the overconsumption of plastics in the healthcare sector.
Webinar: Adjusting the Lens on Plastics & Healthcare:
The information in this guide can be used in the following ways:
Help inform organising campaigns/workshops on plastics & healthcare
Talking Points for school/community gatherings
Talking Points for radio shows and other awareness raising activities
Spreading awareness online, or
Engaging with local stakeholders and governments
This guide has also been culminated in response to the increasingly influential power the plastics industry has been demonstrating in shaping policy and public perception, particularly during the INC negotiations for the Global Plastics Treaty.
During the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC4); to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment which took place from 23 to 29 April 2024 at the Shaw Center in Ottawa,Canada; delegations were greeted by a barrage of unethical and unidentifiable sponsored advertisements that sung the praises of how “Plastics Saves Lives”. This desperate attempt at pro-plastic messaging filled the lobbies of hotels, welcomed tourists at the airport on information boards, transported the people of Ottawa in taxis and stalked the Shaw Centre at every chance whilst critical negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty happened inside. After much speculation around who was responsible for these ads, Machinery maker Husky Technologies admitted to sponsoring the advertising campaign.
In desperation to “remind people and all the delegations of the essential needs of plastic,” these ads included pictures of people with plastic medical masks captioned "These Plastics Saves Lives" , The campaign also includes a website, theseplastics.com. The narrative of plastic saves lives is misguiding us to believe that we can continue down a path of overproduction. Plastic saves lives is a narrative driven by people who profit from plastic production and not healthcare professionals.
This kind of messaging goes against the scientific evidence that shows that #PlasticHarmsLives and disrupts the efforts of civil society organisations (CSOs) and healthcare experts in raising awareness on the issue of plastic in healthcare and how the Global Treaty can address these concerns through a comprehensive phase-out of harmful plastics and production reduction thereof.