Plastic chemicals pose risks to human health. Solutions need to start upstream

Lightweight, durable, and inexpensive, plastic has become ubiquitous across almost every aspect of modern life. Yet a growing body of research is examining how our exposure to plastic-associated chemicals can result in a range of health problems across the human lifespan – making the need for safer alternatives critical.

Identifying the challenge

Around half a billion tons of plastic is produced globally each year, with 98% derived from fossil fuels. Without stronger policies, global plastic use is projected to nearly triple by 2060. The scale of production is only part of the challenge. Plastics contain thousands of chemicals, some of which can migrate out of products and leach into the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe.

“Every day, we are exposed to plastic chemicals in a vast, uncontrolled experiment – without our knowledge or consent. The world urgently needs to replace fossil-based plastics with safer alternatives,” says Professor Sarah Dunlop, Director of Plastics and Human Health of Minderoo Foundation, the Australian philanthropic organization supporting research, policy, and emerging technologies aimed at tackling the plastic problem further upstream.

Efforts to fight plastic pollution are taking place on multiple fronts, with governments negotiating international responses, researchers building the evidence base, and companies developing alternatives. But addressing the problem at scale also requires a shift from reactive solutions – such as waste collection and recycling – to preventative approaches that reduce, replace, and regulate problematic plastic chemicals at the source.

Reframing the narrative

The environmental consequences of plastic pollution are well documented, but studies are also examining the effects of plastic-associated chemicals on human health. Found to enter the body through water, food, and air, these chemicals have been linked to a range of health issues.

In 2024, Minderoo Foundation and research organization JBI published an Umbrella Review examining plastic-associated chemicals to which humans are commonly exposed. It found consistent evidence linking exposure to adverse health outcomes, including impacts on birth outcomes, child neurodevelopment, reproductive health, and metabolic, endocrine, and nutritional systems. Following further research, these outcomes were updated in 2026 to include reproductive health, pregnancy, immune function, and hormone regulation.

Minderoo Foundation’s impact film fund, Minderoo Pictures, has also sought to bring the issue to a wider audience by investing in The Plastic Detox and The Plastic Country – documentaries exploring the health and environmental consequences associated with plastic chemicals and pollution.

“We must reduce our exposure to plastic chemicals – including the thousands that remain unassessed for their impact on human health, despite evidence of toxicity,” says Professor Dunlop.

Addressing these risks requires more than managing plastic waste. It also means accelerating the transition from fossil fuel-based plastics to materials designed to be safe and sustainable from the outset and investing in the research and production capacity needed to bring alternatives to scale.

Enabling the solution

In efforts to drive action further upstream, Minderoo Foundation is investing in businesses bringing safer materials and technologies to market, supporting research to overcome technical barriers, and generating data-driven insights to inform innovation and policy.

Since 2022, the foundation has also advocated for a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty that puts human health and lifecycle regulation at the center of international negotiations, amid limited transparency around chemicals in plastic products and gaps in regulatory requirements for chemical safety assessment.

Emerging technologies are also exploring how plastics can be replaced or improved. Enzide Technologies, for example, is developing additives that accelerate bioplastic biodegradation, while Kalpana Systems is developing coating technology that improves the performance and recyclability of paper and other flexible packaging materials.

“When you consider 82% of financing in plastic innovation focuses on downstream improvements rather than upstream design, there’s real power in using impact capital to drive the global transition to safe and sustainable materials that replace and improve plastic,” says John Hartman, CEO of Minderoo Foundation.

Moving beyond waste management requires scientific evidence, investment, and stronger upstream policies to bring safer, more sustainable materials to scale and protect human and climate health from the outset. As world leaders prepare to convene for High-Level Week during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly from September 22 – 28, 2026, there is an opportunity to accelerate investment in these solutions.

Learn more about how Minderoo Foundation is advocating for a world without harmful plastics here and why the Global Plastics Treaty is a once in a lifetime opportunity to create universal protection against health harms caused by plastic-associated chemicals here.