The global negotiations on ending plastic pollution continued into an additional round, the  INC5.2. , in August 2025, as no agreement was reached in South-Korea in 2024. We joined our allies from civil society, the Women’s Major Group, IPEN and Break Free from Plastics to stand strong for rights of those that suffer the impacts on their health and livelihoods from plastic pollution, and to try our utmost so that the big polluters would not win the day.

Once more we organised our “Women’s Delegate Lunch“, which attracted some 100 delegates from 40 countries, to discuss feminist priorities, in particular that the treaty text should include the protection of health from toxic chemicals that are contained in plastic products and waste.

Organised around several regional language tables, we had rich discussions on the health impacts of plastic chemicals, particularly their effects on women, children, and future generations. Many delegates are unaware of how endocrine-disrupting chemicals, flame retardants, and forever chemicals are impacting reproductive and menstrual health and how the new End Plastic Pollution Treaty must aim to protect human health and future generations. 

One of the key points that emerged is that we must work together to ensure that the health objective of the treaty speaks to this reality and protects future generations. The Women’s Major Group (WMG) at UNEP (United Nations Environment Assembly) has a special working group on plastic pollution, they shared their priorities statement for INC5.2. with the delegates.

The working group also gave several interventions during the negotiations, in which they urged to put human health and well-being above economic interests:

“Now is the time to act for future generations, ensuring a safer and healthier world for all. The wellbeing of girls and women around the world and future generations depend on a clean and healthy environment, depends on your efforts to ensure a strong, human-rights based, gender-transformative, global treaty!”

See more statements by the WMG at UNEP to INC here on the website of UN Environment:

WECF was represented from its three offices, WECF Germany, WECF France and WECF International who coordinated closely with the Women’s Major Group. See also the video real by WECF here:

Photo: group photo from the INC5.2. delegate lunch. Credits Kiara Worth – Earth Negotiations Bulletin IISD

Other sources which we shared with the women delegates

• WECF – Our anti-harmful substances guides are now available in English: https://www.wecf.org/anti-harmful-substances-guidebooks/
• IPEN – Plastics, EDCs & Health: https://ipen.org/sites/default/files/documents/edc_guide_2020_v1_6ew-en.pdf