Insights

The world is waking up to the fact that our current Throw-Away Economy is not compatible with living on a finite planet. Rather than treating people and the planet as disposable, we need to move to a New Reuse Economy where consumer products are delivered in reusable packaging made from justly produced, sustainable and non-toxic materials.

Today Safer States launched a new resource to help candidates understand how they can be part of the solution by promoting policies that protect communities from toxic threats and create incentives for safer materials.  

Mark Hyland, Board Chair for Defend Our Health, has been an REI member since 1973. PFAS contamination is a huge problem in his home state of Maine where multi-generation dairy farms have closed forever due to this “forever chemical”. He is urging REI to step up to the plate and address PFAS in their products now rather than later.

Textile certifiers are lagging behind what is happening around the country as states and companies take action to address PFAS in textiles. Safer States, Natural Resources Defense Council, Toxic-Free Future, and nine other environmental organizations from around the country recently sent letters to the major textile certifiers AFIRM, bluesign®, OEKO-TEX® and ZDHC, urging them to update their standards to address the entire class of PFAS. 

Hi friends, Polluted Polly here! We probably met last year as I launched my neighbor-to-neighbor push to ban toxic chemicals like PFAS, otherwise known as the ”forever chemicals,” in food packaging. I’ve traveled the country and met so many great friends and leaders, from state legislators working to pass laws that protect our health, to concerned families living with PFAS-contaminated water, to health professionals wanting to reduce exposure to PFAS especially during the time of COVID. I’ve learned a lot on my journey.

In a historic move, world leaders from 175 nations recently agreed to begin working toward an international agreement to address the entire lifecycle of plastic and create rules around its production, use, and disposal. In response, Unilever—a major corporation contributing to the problem—tweeted: “Plastic pollution is fixable, but the world needs a plan.” 

So, what is their “plan” to address plastic pollution?

Safer States analyzed state-level policies on toxic chemical regulation, finding that at least 32 states will consider policies in 2022. Safer States anticipates that at least 210 policies will be under consideration in 2022 and efforts to combat toxic PFAS chemicals will continue to be the most prevalent issue.

What a year! In 2021 states have once again stepped up and created incentives for safer chemistries, materials as well as protections from toxic chemicals. Using PFAS as a way to highlight the problem, states drove a big toxics agenda including pushing for a class-based restriction of toxic chemicals, transparency about what chemicals are in what products, and identification of safer materials and processes. 

A new report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine details the serious impacts that plastic is having on the health of our oceans and communities. It underscores the interconnectivity between plastic pollution and toxic chemicals and reinforces the importance of tackling these challenges together. 

Today, Safer States joined with 35 allies in asking the federal government to follow the states lead and move toward safer, non-toxic materials and products and away from toxic chemicals like PFAS through their purchasing power.