Ban single-use plastics in food packaging, group tells government

SAYING diseases borne out of toxic chemicals in most food packaging is another pandemic waiting to happen, environmental and health groups on Wednesday reiterated the call to ban single-use plastics, especially those in food packaging.

At an online webinar and news briefing, leaders of the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) Asia Pacific, together with #breakfreefromplastic, Greeners Actions (Hong Kong), Health Care Without Harm-southeast Asia, and UPSTREAM warn the public against what they described as false industry narrative that singleuse plastics prevent virus transmission.

Among others, they are calling to make alternatives to single-use plastics available by providing incentives to refilling stations and Zero Waste stores, put in place guidelines on toxic-free packaging to include elimination of chemicals in food packaging; and schedule the phase out for sachet use to be included in single-use plastics ban.

Finally, they are also calling to promote the development of community-driven livelihood projects for alternative natural and local materials.

The online event was held in time for the celebration of the World Health Day on April 7.

“The dramatic rise in the use of single-use plastics in food service during the pandemic has been fueled by a false industry narrative that single-use plastics prevent virus transmission,” Miriam Gordon, UPSTREAM policy director said.

The event is part of The Unwrapped Project: Exposing the health risks of plastics + food packaging chemicals.

“Covid-19 research demonstrates the virus is transmitted from aerosolized droplets not by touching contaminated surfaces and the idea that plastic packaging makes us safer lacks any scientific basis,” she said.