Missed chance to curb scourge of plastic poison

PLASTIC pollution is a major threat to the health of our planet.

- NADA FARHOUD

Four hundred million tons of it are produced every year, with this set to triple by 2060.

Plastic is poisoning our land, the life in our rivers and oceans, the food we eat and the air we breathe.

It is also fuelling the climate crisis. Plastics production emits more emissions than the global aviation industry, while 99% of plastic is made from fossil fuels.

Scientists have also compiled a list of over 16,000 chemicals present in plastic products and found more than 4,000 of these were hazardous to human health and the environment.