Why Gender Must Be at the Heart of the Global Plastics Treaty
By Tripti Arora, Coordinator, IPEN South Asia Hub, IPEN Gender Coordinator
As plastic pollution spirals into a full-scale environmental and health crisis, the world is witnessing mounting calls for urgent, comprehensive action. A Global Plastics Treaty is now on the agenda, aiming to curb the toxic toll of plastics across ecosystems and communities. Yet, to be truly effective, this treaty needs to acknowledge a crucial but often overlooked dimension: gender.
Due to both social and biological factors, women bear a disproportionate burden of exposure to toxic chemicals in plastics. Integrating a gender perspective isn’t just about equity—it’s a pathway to creating a healthier, more effective, and far-reaching response to plastic pollution.
The Overlooked Hazard: Toxic Chemicals in Plastics
Plastic is far from a neutral material, it is made of fossil fuels, chemicals, and additives and contains a range of toxic chemicals, including endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) like phthalates, bisphenols (BPA), and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). These chemicals, used to make plastics durable and flexible, leach out at every stage of the plastic life cycle—from manufacturing to disposal. Exposure to EDCs is linked to serious health issues, including cancers, developmental disorders, reproductive health problems, and immune system damage.
For women, the threat is especially severe. Research shows that many EDCs accumulate in body fat, posing unique risks to women due to higher body fat percentages and life stages like pregnancy, lactation, and menopause that heighten vulnerability to these toxins. Furthermore, these toxic exposures don’t stop with the woman—they can pass on to her children, creating an intergenerational cycle of harm. With chemicals in plastics continuing to invade our ecosystems and bodies, it is imperative for the Global Plastics Treaty to recognize these gender-specific risks.
How Women Are Impacted by Plastic Pollution
Women worldwide, and especially in low-income and informal sectors, disproportionately bear the toxic burden of plastics. In countries like India, millions of women work in waste management—sorting, recycling, and disposing of plastic waste, often without protective equipment or healthcare benefits. These workers face daily exposure to chemicals like brominated flame retardants, dioxins, cadmium, and lead, which can lead to severe health issues, including respiratory diseases, cancers, and reproductive disorders.
In plastic manufacturing plants, where plastics are produced, assembled, and processed, women often face significant health risks due to toxic chemical exposure. These facilities frequently lack strict health and safety protocols, leaving female workers vulnerable to high levels of hazardous substances like phthalates and bisphenols (such as BPA). Studies have shown that exposure to these chemicals can increase the risk of cancers, hormonal disorders, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Furthermore, many women also bear the responsibility of caring for family members impacted by pollution, compounding their indirect exposure and psychological burden.
The Essential Role of Women in Tackling Plastic Pollution
In addressing the global plastic crisis, the contributions and voices of women are not just valuable—they are indispensable. Women in many communities are already spearheading grassroots efforts to manage waste, reduce plastic use, and protect their environments. Female waste workers, for example, play a vital role in recycling systems, yet their work is rarely recognized or safeguarded. Meanwhile, women-led organizations are advocating for a ban on harmful chemicals and for policies that prioritize health over profits. Recognizing women’s unique perspectives and including them in decision-making will lead to more effective, comprehensive, and equitable solutions.
A gender-inclusive approach to the Global Plastics Treaty would not only acknowledge the disproportionate impact plastics have on women but also leverage women’s roles as change agents. When empowered, women bring diverse and practical perspectives that can transform policy. Women working at every level—from informal waste management to policy advocacy—have insights that can ensure the treaty’s measures are grounded in real-world challenges and needs.
How the Global Plastics Treaty Can Address Gender
To be effective and inclusive, the Global Plastics Treaty should prioritize gender by:
- Gathering Gender-Specific Health Data to ensure standards reflect women’s unique vulnerabilities.
- Enforcing Occupational Health Standards with protections like screenings and equipment for high-risk sectors.
- Ensuring Representation in Decision-Making, so impacted women’s voices shape policies.
- Banning Toxic Additives in Plastics, prioritizing the removal of harmful chemicals affecting women and children.
- Supporting Informal Sector Workers with protections, fair wages, and social benefits, addressing the vital role women play in waste management.
A Call for Change at INC5: Make Gender a Priority
As we approach the critical INC5 negotiations, incorporating gender into the Global Plastics Treaty must be high on the agenda. The impacts of plastics aren’t shared equally; women often shoulder a disproportionate toxic burden due to both occupational and societal roles. Ignoring this would make the treaty both inequitable and ineffective, missing a critical chance to champion health, equity, and environmental justice.
The plastic crisis is pervasive, infiltrating everything from the food we eat to the air we breathe. However, women are uniquely impacted, especially those working in high-exposure sectors like waste management and manufacturing, where harmful chemicals in plastics threaten their health and that of future generations. By integrating gender into the treaty, we don’t just create a fair policy—we build a resilient, sustainable future rooted in compassion and practical change.
The upcoming INC5 meeting offers an opportunity to set a precedent for inclusive environmental policy, demonstrating that genuine progress includes everyone.