Plastic waste from domestic and imported sources is polluting Türkiye’s waters, Mongabay reports. Environmental groups warn it risks becoming a dumping ground for global plastic waste without stronger controls. 🔗 https://ow.ly/7VOg50YAGr9

Reporting from Climate Home News highlights a roadmap to revive stalled global plastics treaty talks. After months of deadlock, diplomats will meet this year ahead of formal negotiations in 2026 or 2027. 🔗 https://ow.ly/lzYm50YAERE

A report from Yale Environment 360 examines how decades of mining in Zambia have left communities exposed to dangerous levels of heavy metals. Lead contamination is linked to neurological damage, developmental delays, and long term health impacts. Click to learn more: https://ow.ly/VwnS50YAoHc

Join the CHE webinar "Plastics, Chemicals & Infertility: What We Know Now" with Dr. Shanna Swan, covering fertility trends, environmental exposures, and a “detox” experiment from a recent documentary. 📅 April 2 | 1pm EDT | 7pm CEST 🔗 https://www.healthandenvironment.org/che-webinars/97127

Join a webinar hosted by the World Bank and UNITAR on reducing mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining and learn about technologies that can reduce or eliminate mercury use in ASGM and protect communities. 🗓 Wednesday, April 1 ⏰ 8am EDT | 2pm CEST 🔗 https://ow.ly/YGGh50YziSw

New reporting from CNN’s Kristen Rogers links PFAS “forever chemicals” to lower bone density in children, raising concerns about long-term health impacts. Scientists say even low-level exposure early in life may have lasting effects. Click to learn more: https://ow.ly/ZwjZ50YyNmu

1EUobserver reports that current EU rules allow plastic products to be labeled as “recycled” even when they contain as little as 2–5% recycled content, raising concerns about misleading claims and greenwashing: euobserver.com/206325/how-t...

IPEN’s technical advisor Lee Bell shares his perspective on the realities behind chemical recycling and how it's used as a propaganda tool in his recent appearance on the Living Planet podcast. Listen here: https://www.dw.com/en/houston-we-have-a-plastic-problem/audio-76432935

The Green Forum shared a post that draws on a recent presentation and remarks that Dr Therese Karlsson, Science and Technical Advisor at IPEN, delivered during a GGKP webinar held on 24 February 2026. Read here: thegreenforum.org/blog/awarene...

IPEN women celebrate International Women's Day!

IPEN women celebrate International Women's Day!

IPEN women celebrate International Women's Day!

IPEN women celebrate International Women's Day!

In preparation for the upcoming Plastics Treaty Heads of Delegation meeting, IPEN notes that countries participating in the Plastics Treaty negotiations will need to swiftly assess the Chair’s upcoming “draft roadmap." Read here: https://ipen.org/documents/open-letter-plastics-treaty-delegates

IPEN women celebrate International Women's Day!

IPEN women celebrate International Women's Day!

Today on International Women's Day, hear from Ana Paula Souza of the UN High Commission for Human Rights speaking on Human Rights, Chemicals and Women's Health.

Personal Care Insights reports that mercury-containing skin-lightening creams continue to be sold in global markets despite international bans and growing health warnings: www.personalcareinsights.com/news/mercury... EcoWaste Coalition is raising alarms about mercury-containing cosmetics.

Damien Gayle at The Guardian reports that the ToxFree LIFE for All project found hazardous chemicals in every pair of headphones tested, including bisphenols, phthalates, and chlorinated paraffins linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, and reproductive harm: www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Megan Hyslop reports in Daily Maverick on the “slow violence” of chronic pesticide exposure and its invisible toll on children’s health in South Africa, particularly in farming and rural communities: www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026...

Join us this Friday, 6 March, for a webinar, Women, Chemicals & Human Rights: Integrating Justice into Chemical Governance. RSVP here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

A report from NOTUS, based on newly obtained FOIA records, reveals internal tensions at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over how aggressively to regulate PFAS, “forever chemicals.” www.notus.org/climate-envi...

NWONewsWatch shares that Judy Da Silva, a Grassy Narrows Elder who suffers from mercury contamination, spoke with an Indigenous network, highlighting the decades-long health, cultural, and environmental impacts of toxic pollution in the community. www.nwonewswatch.com/local-news/g...

Contemporary Pediatrics reports that a new study has identified dozens more PFAS “forever chemicals” in umbilical cord blood than previously detected, highlighting widespread prenatal exposure. www.contemporarypediatrics.com/view/study-f...

Emma Stanley at BBC News reports that elevated levels of PFAS “forever chemicals” were found in eggs from domestic poultry kept near a former ICI chemical plant in Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

"The sustainability aspects of the energy transition & critical mineral supply chains are not just about the minerals being extracted, but about the lives protected in the process." - @ismawati17.bsky.social

Women are disproportionately impacted by toxic chemicals. Next Friday, join @toxicsfree.bsky.social for a webinar on the importance of including women in decision-making when it comes to toxic chemical regulation. #EnvironmentalJustice Register: www-tinyurl.com/07625163

Plastic pellets from petchemi facilities continue to pollute our waterways. Scientists & experts call for International Maritime Law to recognize plastic pellets as hazardous to the marine environment. @toxicsfree.bsky.social #EnvironmentalJustice ipen.org/news/scienti...

Join @acat-akaction.bsky.social and CHE-AK for their next webinar on Thursday, February 26, at 10am AKST/ 2pm EST/ 8pm CET. Interlinkages Among Plastics, Chemicals, and Climate Change. RSVP here: www.akaction.org/webinars/202... The speakers are Dr. Leonardo Trasande and Rosemary Ahtuangaruak.

On Feb 24, IPEN's Science Advisor and our Co-Chair will speak at a Stockholm Convention webinar focused on the Stockholm Convention and how countries can develop and implement action plans to eliminate health threats from POPs. Learn more and RSVP here: zoom.us/webinar/regi...

A recent report from GRID-Arendal and IPEN finds that three major types of plastic waste that are mostly exempt from global transparency rules pose significant threats to the environment and human health. Learn more: stoppoisonplastic.org/blog/plastic...

IPEN Science Advisor Dr. Therese Karlsson co-authored a commentary documenting decades of research showing the threats to ocean environments posed by plastics commonly spilled during shipping. The piece calls for stronger global rules to prevent plastic spills. Read more: ipen.org/news/scienti...

Hair samples collected by Indigenous Peoples in Peru and Nicaragua, in communities near artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) operations, show high levels of mercury. Download the report here: ipen.org/documents/me...

This map highlights original science, country-based data, and policy proposals to end the health and environmental threats from plastics. Visit: ipen-plastic-map.vercel.app 150+ publications and reports from more than 85 countries are visualized in the map.

IPEN Science Advisor Sara Brosché spoke about the importance of civil society participation in chemical policy development at the Chemicals and Waste Negotiations Briefing 2026 webinar hosted by the @genevaenvironmentnetwork.org Watch the entire thing here: www.youtube.com/live/Cna4yTm...

Underscoring the planetary pollution crisis we are in, Sara Brosché of @toxicsfree.bsky.social highlights multisectoral & multistakeholder engagement as vital, stressing the need to move beyond business-as-usual, maximize agreements, ensure effective decision-making & engage in alternatives.

As a member of the NGO coalition @toxicsfree.bsky.social, we joined the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution #ISP-CWP to advocate for an independent, transparent, and conflict-free panel that truly responds to communities vulnerable to toxic pollution

IPEN is hosting a webinar, "Turning Bio-Monitoring Knowledge into Action: Training and Guidelines for IPEN POs in Southeast and East Asia and Beyond." Date: February 12, 2026 Time: 3:30–5:30 PM KST | 2:30–4:30 PM Manila Time RSVP here: tinyurl.com/BioMonitorin...

Albanian government and customs officials and steel company executives have been arrested for a long-running, toxic trade conspiracy. Read more here: conta.cc/3Zt4C66

The @genevaenvironmentnetwork.org is hosting ‘Chemicals and Waste Negotiations Briefing 2026’ on Thursday, February 12, from 10:00-12:00 CET. This event will take place in-person and online. Learn more and RSVP here: www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/events/chemi...

AFP: Plastic Treaty talks elect new Chair. Bjorn Beeler said: "The plastics treaty has escaped the consensus trap. Voting has finally enabled a breakthrough and breakout from the past's pitfalls. The road ahead is now open to tackle the global plastics crisis poisoning our planet and our bodies."

IPEN reflects on the close of negotiations on the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP) and how little substantive discussion took place on either science or policy: ipen.org/news/science...

‘UN chemicals panel talks end with little progress as procedural skirmishes eclipse science’ Read the article by Michelle Langrand in Geneva Solutions: genevasolutions.news/climate-envi...

The IPEN delegation together for the Science to Policy panel meeting - see IPEN's Quick Views with notes on the meeting topics at ipen.org/conferences/...

The first plenary session of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP) is happening now in Geneva. Please read our Quick Views for this meeting: ipen.org/documents/qu... This resource is available in English, French, and Spanish.

A recent study by the Centre for Public Health and Environmental Development (CEPHED) has revealed that millions of Nepalis are exposed to lead, a toxic heavy metal, through personal care products and cosmetics, like toothpaste and eyeliner: kathmandupost.com/health/2026/...

5 Industry can downplay or manipulate science to resist regulation. We need: ✅ to protect health & environment ✅ to ban toxics producers in regulatory processes ✅ conflict-of-interest rules ✅ lobby transparency ✅ independent science ✅ #ToxicFreePolitics corporateeurope.org/en/2026/02/p...

3 Check out the briefing's 4 case studies: 🏭 Industry withholding knowledge - #PFAS 🏭 Industry undermining independent science - #BisphenolA 🏭 Industry establishing front groups - #Benzene 🏭 Industry combining disinformation strategies - #Pesticides corporateeurope.org/en/2026/02/p...

2 Briefing looks at industry’s deceptive tactics to avoid regulation. These can include: ⚠️ Not sharing damaging knowledge ⚠️ Undermining independent science ⚠️ Pointing to other causes for harms ⚠️ Intimidation ⚠️ Developing PR campaigns ⚠️ Using front groups corporateeurope.org/en/2026/02/p...

1 Check out new ‘The Pollution Playbook: how industry blocks regulation of toxic chemicals’ briefing by @ciel.org and @corporateeurope.org on the deceptive tactics used by chemicals industry to keep producing & using their toxic products. ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ corporateeurope.org/en/2026/02/p...