Kunnskapsstatus om helse- og miljøskadelige stoffer i plast

The plastic crisis is one of the main environmental issues of our time and is closely linked to the production and use of and the pollution from chemicals.

All plastic materials are made from and contain chemicals, and some of these may cause harm to human health and the environment. Their continued use can jeopardize the goal of a safe and sustainable circular economy.

Thousands of chemicals are used in plastics and more than 2.400 of these have been identified as substances of potential concern based on their hazardous properties.

Ambitious regulatory efforts in the EU and globally are underway that seek to end plastic pollution and to establish a safe and sustainable circular economy. It is important to ensure that substances of concern are properly addressed as part of these efforts. While plastic pollution and substances of concern are often treated separately from a governance perspective, plastic polymers and industrial chemicals are derivatives from the same industry. To develop an effective response, their management and governance would therefore benefit from an integrated and holistic approach.

The body of literature focusing on plastic pollution and substances of concern is rapidly expanding. However, there is still an urgent need for consolidated information to support policy-making by highlighting key findings and knowledge gaps in the literature, as well as identifying priorities and effective risk management measures. Consolidated information in the form of reviews is also important for ongoing national work with plastics and chemicals, and for Norway's ambition to be among the leading countries in tackling the plastic challenges.

Substances of concern in plastics as well as synergies and gaps in the governance of chemicals are currently being mapped in two separate UNEP reports that will be published in advance of the first negotiating meeting to develop a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution to be held from 28 November to 2 December 2022.

Using these reports and other available literature, including peer-reviewed and grey literature, the project should describe and possibly further elaborate on which substances of concern (e.g. additives, monomers, degradation products) that are found in different types of plastics/ polymers.

The project should seek to identify substances and/or plastic polymers that could be prioritised for phasing out in the EU or globally.