Plastic pollution poses a serious threat to human, environmental and planetary health at every stage of its life cycle. Communities, health workers and health systems already face the alarming impacts of plastics production and pollution. The worst impacts of plastics’ production and disposal are not equally distributed, but instead are concentrated in the most vulnerable and under-resourced communities.

The healthcare sector is a major consumer of plastics and generates significant plastic waste at each stage of the life cycle. The sector is estimated to be responsible for over 4% of global emissions, with as much as 71% of these emissions derived from making, transporting, using and disposing of products for health care - including plastics. In Australia, healthcares share of total national emissions is higher at approximately 7%. Although a major consumer of plastics, the healthcare sector is playing a significant role in leading efforts to eliminate plastic pollution. But change cannot occur solely within the health system. Reform is needed at all stages of the life cycle, to abate scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.

The Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA) will bring together stakeholders from across the plastics-health life cycle for a panel discussion, to explore the barriers to phasing plastics out of health and fit-for-all solutions which ensure an equitable transition.

Speakers now announced! We are excited to welcome:

👉 Dr Stanley Chen; Surgeon and Net Zero Lead for surgery in New South Wales
👉 Dr Thava Palanisami; Plastics and human health expert
👉 Nathan Malin; Supply chain and product stewardship expert
👉 David Russell; Nurse and Sustainable Procurement Implementation Manager

SEE ALL SOLUTIONS HOUSE EVENTS HERE

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