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Plastic Planet calls for urgent cross-government effort to better understand health impacts from plastics
The government is facing fresh calls to reduce babies' exposure to potentially toxic chemicals from plastic products, such as bottles, pacifiers, and mattresses, and support efforts to make safer alternatives more readily available and affordable.
Environmental group a Plastic Planet today launched a campaign in Parliament, which focuses on the tackling plastic-related risks during first 1,000 days of life - from conception to age two - which are widely regarded by medical professionals as the most critical period of human development.
"This is not about blaming parents," said Sian Sutherland, co-founder of a Plastic Planet. "It is about recognising that families should only be sold products that are safe by design. Parents deserve clear information, affordable choices and a regulatory system that puts children's health first."
The campaign urges the government to launch a call for evidence to assess the latest scientific research and practical industry and healthcare initiatives to better understand plastic-related risks and explore how safer alternatives can be deployed at scale without increasing costs for families.
The campaign was launched alongside results of a survey of 2,000 UK adults which found eight in 10 parents believe the government should take action to reduce exposure to potentially harmful plastics, while 69 per cent of parents report being concerned about their babies' exposure to chemicals from plastic products.
Researchers have identified links between exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and reproductive disorders, neurodevelopmental effects, metabolic diseases, and hormone-related cancers.
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals, including bisphenols, phthalates and PFAS - or so called forever chemicals - are at the primary focus of the campaign, which argues many of these substances can be found across a range of plastic baby products despite emerging evidence that suggests they can interfere with the body's hormonal system.
Peer reviewed research has warned baby bottles and drinking cups can release chemicals such as BPA (Bisphenol A) and BPS (Bisphenol S) along with other bisphenols, even when products are marked as ‘BPA-free'.
Meanwhile, research has suggested polypropylene feeding bottles can release up to 16.2 million microplastic particles per litre during formula preparation, with heat and sterilisation increasing migration.
While safe alternatives already exist for many products, including glass, stainless steel, medical-grade silicone, and natural-fibre materials, the campaign warns these options are often more expensive and argues parents should not carry the burden of trying to weigh complex chemical risks or paying a premium for safer options.
As such, it calls on the government to enact enhanced safety standards for the industry that limits the use of materials that could present a health risk.
It highlights how EU regulators have recently moved further ahead of the UK in restricting certain chemicals in products used by babies and young children.
The EU's wider chemicals strategy targets endocrine disruptors, chemical mixtures, and PFAS, while its new Toy Safety Regulation will restrict endocrine disruptors, PFAS, and certain bisphenols in toys following new transition periods.
The campaign argues the UK already has legislative mechanisms available to act such as the UK REACH regulations that were enacted after Brexit or the Environmental Protection Act of 1990, which was recently used to enable restrictions on the sale of single use plastic products such as plastic straws, cotton buds, and stirrers.
Following an urgent call for evidence, the campaign is calling for a package of reforms including mandatory testing of chemicals included in baby products, clear labelling, and phased bans of certain products such as plastic feeding bottles or teethers.
"We ask families to make safe choices, but we surround them with almost all plastic options and don't give them the information, transparency or affordable alternatives," said Dr Dolly van Tulleken, visiting scientist, MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge. "It is time for government to make the plastic free option a reality and address the plastic health crisis impacting our children."
Defra was considering a request for comment at the time of going to press.
